US Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general
Thestandard · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general early Saturday, giving President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer permanent control of the Justice Department after he had already been serving as acting attorney general. The confirmation passed by a narrow 50-49 margin, underscoring deep partisan divisions over whether the department could remain independent under a close Trump ally.
Key Points
- Blanche, previously Trump’s private lawyer in several criminal trials, was confirmed after Republicans in the narrowly controlled Senate backed his nomination.
- The final vote was 50-49, with Republican senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joining Democrats in voting against confirmation.
- Blanche had already been serving as the top U.S. law enforcement officer in an acting capacity before the Senate’s formal approval.
- During a July 15, 2026 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Blanche testified on his nomination.
- Democrats, led by Senator Dick Durbin, said Blanche still acted like Trump’s personal lawyer and could politicize the Justice Department.
Why It Matters
Blanche’s confirmation places a longtime Trump loyalist at the head of the Department of Justice at a time when critics say the president is trying to bring traditionally independent agencies under tighter White House control. The narrow vote and cross-party defections suggest continued scrutiny over how Blanche will handle the department’s independence, prosecutorial decisions, and relationship with the president.