{
  "id": 303492,
  "title": "Todd Blanche narrowly confirmed as Trump’s attorney general in overnight vote",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/todd-blanche-narrowly-confirmed-as-trumps-attorney-general-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-08T08:53:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/senate-blanche-attorney-general-justice-department-fcb4157d45d7b13a05de4d2b0f4f92e2"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Republican-controlled Senate gave final approval on Saturday morning to make Todd Blanche the second confirmed attorney general since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Blanche, currently serving as the acting attorney general, received 50 votes in favor and 49 against, narrowly securing the confirmation despite opposition from two Republican senators. The confirmation process for Blanche was fraught with controversy, stemming from concerns over a disputed settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Following intense pressure, Blanche publicly pledged in writing to abandon Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for his allies, including those involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack, and to curb another provision designed to protect Trump and his family from IRS tax audits. This concession helped sway Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who endorsed Blanche, stating that no other nominee may better serve the Trump administration’s agenda within the Justice Department.",
  "summary": "Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, right, is joined by Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Ambassador Michael C. Gonzales, left, during a news conference at the Department of Justice, Wednesday, August 5, 2026 in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) 2026-08-08T08:32:16Z WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed…",
  "key_points": [
    "Todd Blanche confirmed as Trump's attorney general in 50-49 Senate vote",
    "Blanche pledges to abandon Trump's $1.8B compensation fund for allies",
    "Senator Bill Cassidy endorses Blanche to serve Trump's Justice Department"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/303492.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The New Yorker",
        "title": "The Senate’s Shameful Acquiescence to Todd Blanche as Attorney General",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/the-senates-shameful-acquiescence-to-todd-blanche-as-attorney-general",
        "published": "2026-08-07T22:15:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Todd Blanche, Trump's ex-lawyer, confirmed as US attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/todd-blanche-trumps-ex-lawyer-confirmed-as-us-attorney-general",
        "published": "2026-08-08T10:19:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Trump’s former personal lawyer narrowly confirmed as US attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/trumps-former-personal-lawyer-narrowly-confirmed-as-us-attorney",
        "published": "2026-08-08T10:36:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Todd Blanche, Trump’s ex-lawyer, confirmed as US attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/todd-blanche-trumps-ex-lawyer-confirmed-as-us-attorney-general-327053",
        "published": "2026-08-08T14:13:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Todd Blanche narrowly confirmed as attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/todd-blanche-narrowly-confirmed-as-attorney-general",
        "published": "2026-08-08T14:43:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "People Daily Kenya",
        "title": "Trump’s former lawyer Todd Blanche narrowly confirmed as US attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/trumps-former-lawyer-todd-blanche-narrowly-confirmed-as-us-attorney",
        "published": "2026-08-08T14:54:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Todd Blanche narrowly confirmed as Trump's attorney general in overnight vote",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/todd-blanche-narrowly-confirmed-as-trumps-attorney-general-in-313117",
        "published": "2026-08-08T15:18:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Senate Republicans narrowly confirm Todd Blanche as Trump's attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/senate-republicans-narrowly-confirm-todd-blanche-as-trumps-attorney",
        "published": "2026-08-08T16:10:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Dems blast Blanche as enabler of 'Trump’s corruption' after AG confirmation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/dems-blast-blanche-as-enabler-of-trumps-corruption-after-ag",
        "published": "2026-08-08T19:45:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}