By Damian Arugo Jr. | National News
The United States Senate has narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche, a former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, as the country’s new Attorney General.
Blanche secured confirmation in a 50-49 vote, ending a prolonged standoff between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration over his nomination.
Two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, joined Democrats in voting against Blanche, while Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy cast the decisive vote in favour of the nomination.
Blanche, who had served as acting Attorney General since April after Pam Bondi was removed from the position, said he was “deeply honoured” by the confidence Trump had placed in him.
His confirmation faced opposition from some Republican senators over his handling of the release of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his involvement in a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponisation” fund.
The fund was intended to compensate individuals who alleged they had been subjected to government persecution. However, critics, including Murkowski, expressed concern that it could benefit people prosecuted over the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
During his confirmation hearings, Blanche pledged to abandon the proposed fund following opposition from Republican lawmakers, although questions remain over whether the commitment would prevent the administration from pursuing a similar scheme under a different name.
Murkowski said she opposed Blanche because she lacked confidence in his ability to restrain what she described as the “worst impulses” of the Trump administration.
She also cited concerns over the politicisation of the Justice Department.
Collins, meanwhile, questioned Blanche’s involvement in the settlement of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service but said she ultimately trusted him to provide the president with candid legal advice.
Cassidy, whose vote proved crucial to Blanche’s confirmation, said the decision was not a referendum on Trump but an assessment of Blanche’s suitability for the position.
“All considered, I will vote for Mr Blanche,” Cassidy said, adding that Senate confirmation would give Blanche greater leverage to advocate for appropriate policies within the Justice Department.
Cassidy previously voted to convict Trump during the president’s second impeachment trial following the January 6 Capitol riot. Trump later backed a primary challenger against Cassidy after returning to office.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticised Blanche’s confirmation, accusing him of enabling what he described as corruption within the Trump administration.
Republicans, however, welcomed the confirmation. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said Blanche had demonstrated “extraordinary patience, compassion and tenacity” throughout the confirmation process and described him as qualified for the position.
Blanche now becomes the nation’s top law enforcement official after serving as Trump’s lead lawyer during the president’s 2024 New York hush-money trial.
