{
  "id": 304627,
  "title": "US Senate confirms Trump’s ex-lawyer as attorney general",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/us-senate-confirms-trumps-ex-lawyer-as-attorney-general-304627",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-08T09:09:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/08/08/us-senate-confirms-trump-s-ex-lawyer-as-attorney-general"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Todd Blanche previously represented Donald Trump as his private lawyer in several criminal trials before joining the government.",
  "key_points": [
    "Former President Donald Trump's ex-lawyer Todd Blanche confirmed as Attorney General.",
    "Senate vote 50 to 49 in favor of Blanche's nomination.",
    "Democrats opposed due to Blanche's dual role and tax audit immunity request."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "US Senate confirms Trump's ex lawyer as attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/us-senate-confirms-trumps-ex-lawyer-as-attorney-general",
        "published": "2026-08-08T09:18:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "US Senate averts shutdown before Midterms, curbs Trump on Border Patrol funds, delays Hemp ban",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/us-senate-averts-shutdown-before-midterms-curbs-trump-on-border",
        "published": "2026-08-08T09:46:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "US Senate confirms Trump’s ex-lawyer as attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/us-senate-confirms-trumps-ex-lawyer-as-attorney-general-304164",
        "published": "2026-08-08T10:33:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian US",
        "title": "Trump loyalist Todd Blanche confirmed by Senate as US attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/trump-loyalist-todd-blanche-confirmed-by-senate-as-us-attorney-general",
        "published": "2026-08-08T12:34:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}