{
  "id": 278435,
  "title": "US government: Trump's controversial attorney general candidate Todd Blanche narrowly avoids embarrassment in the Senate",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/us-regierung-trumps-umstrittener-justizminister-kandidat-todd-blanche",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-07T18:02:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/todd-blanche-trumps-umstrittener-justizminister-kandidat-entgeht-blamage-knapp/100245420.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "The US Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche, a former personal attorney of President Donald Trump, as the new Attorney General. The 52-year-old, who has been acting in the position since April, received a narrow majority of 50 to 49 votes on Saturday. This marks the end of a week-long dispute, even within Trump's Republican Party where concerns were raised about Blanche's independence. Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted against him. The crucial vote came from Senator Bill Cassidy, who initially committed to his decision on Friday after having multiple meetings with Trump's preferred candidate, Blanche. He had also spoken to Blanche on the phone the night before. Cassidy had also spoken to Blanche's critics. For Trump, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is a key instrument for reshaping American institutions, and Blanche is a key figure. The jurist is considered a close ally of Trump, having represented him in numerous high-profile legal cases over the years.",
  "summary": "Two female Republicans tried to prevent Todd Blanche from becoming Attorney General. Ironically, a senator who was demoted and humiliated by Trump probably saved him now.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Axios",
        "title": "Susan Collins opposes Todd Blanche for attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/susan-collins-opposes-todd-blanche-for-attorney-general",
        "published": "2026-08-04T21:39:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "The US Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche as Attorney General.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/usa-us-senat-bestatigt-todd-blanche-als-justizminister",
        "published": "2026-08-08T09:11:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Semafor",
        "title": "Blanche confirmed as attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/blanche-confirmed-as-attorney-general",
        "published": "2026-08-09T22:28:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}