US Senate confirms Trump’s ex-lawyer as attorney general
Todd Blanche previously represented Donald Trump as his private lawyer in several criminal trials before joining the government.
On Saturday, the US Senate, under Republican control, confirmed former President Donald Trump's ex-lawyer Todd Blanche as the Attorney General. Blanche, who had already been serving as acting Attorney General, was confirmed by a vote of 50 to 49. Trump, who has sought to bring government agencies under his direct control, described Blanche as a "star".
However, Democrats opposed Blanche's nomination, accusing Trump of using the Department of Justice as a political tool. Democrats expressed concerns over Blanche's dual role as Trump's personal lawyer and the Attorney General. The main issues during confirmation were a proposed $1.8 billion fund for "victims" of politicized prosecutions and a request for immunity from tax audits for Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization.
Blanche ultimately addressed these concerns by scrapping the anti-weaponization fund and limiting the audit immunity proposal to past tax years. Blanche has been closely associated with a "Trump retribution" campaign against the president's opponents and has faced criticism over his handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related files.
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