The US Senate narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general on Friday, handing President Donald Trump a major victory by placing his former personal lawyer at the helm of the nation's law enforcement apparatus. The 50-49 vote saw Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cast the deciding vote in Blanche's favor, while Republican senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined every Democrat in opposition.
Cassidy's Decisive Vote and GOP Divisions
Blanche had already been serving in an acting capacity, but his formal nomination had been stalled for weeks amid Republican concerns over a Department of Justice deal to create a $1.8bn 'anti-weaponization fund' and grant the president, his sons, and his businesses tax immunity. Cassidy, who announced his decision on the Senate floor, acknowledged Blanche's imperfections but argued he was the best available option.
'Mr Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this, but the choice is not between perfection and Mr Blanche,' Cassidy said. 'It is between Mr Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump and who indeed may not be as good as Mr Blanche.'
Democratic Criticism and Corruption Concerns
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized the confirmation, accusing Republicans of enabling corruption. In a post on X, Schumer wrote: 'If you want to wipe out corruption, you can't have the president's personal attorney as the attorney general. You don't need a PhD in political science to know that.' He added that every senator who voted for Blanche had 'branded themselves as an enabler, too.'
Blanche responded on social media, saying he was 'deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me' and 'grateful' to senators for working late to confirm him.
Republican Opposition and the 'Slush Fund'
Murkowski, who voted against Blanche, voiced concerns about the department's $2bn 'slush fund,' which she said 'likely would have rewarded January 6 protesters.' She noted that the fund was only off the table because the nomination was pending, adding, 'Once we vote, that will end, and there is no telling what the future holds.'
However, Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina extracted written assurances from Blanche that the fund would not proceed and clarified the scope of the IRS deal. Despite experts deeming these assurances far from ironclad, Cornyn and Tillis supported Blanche, allowing his nomination to clear the Senate judiciary committee.
Epstein Files and Political Retaliation
Blanche also faced heavy criticism over the department's mishandling of Jeffrey Epstein files, which included redacting information that should have been public and leaving victims' names unredacted. During his confirmation hearing, Blanche initially refused to meet with Epstein victims but later agreed, though the meeting yielded few answers for survivors.
Blanche, who left a lucrative partnership to represent Trump in 2023, has been central to the president's efforts to bend the federal government to his will. Under his leadership, scores of career Justice Department attorneys have left, and judges across the US have rebuked department lawyers for misrepresentations to the court.
Indictments and Investigations Under Blanche
During his tenure as deputy and acting attorney general, the department has indicted former FBI director James Comey twice, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and the Southern Poverty Law Center—cases that experts view as legally thin. It has also attempted to bring criminal charges against Democratic senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, and used investigative powers to pressure former Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
Blanche also promised anti-abortion advocates that the department would make the Dobbs decision permanent in every state, according to Politico.
Collins Explains Opposition
Collins, who is running for re-election in Maine, stated, 'While I believe Mr Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice has become increasingly political. Mr Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the department's independence, and that is the basis for my vote to oppose his confirmation.'
Earlier this year, Blanche expressed ambivalence about the role, saying, 'As to whether or not I want this job, I did not ask for this job. I love working for President Trump, it's the greatest honor of a lifetime.' He added, 'If he chooses to nominate somebody else and asks me to go do something else, I will say, Thank you very much. I love you, sir. I don't have any goals or aspirations beyond that.'
