The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general, elevating President Donald Trump's one-time personal defense lawyer to lead the nation's top federal law enforcement agency.
Republicans closed ranks and supported Blanche, 52, in a 50-49 vote even after two GOP senators joined Democrats in opposition. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, one of the holdouts, came out in support of Blanche after Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against him.
The confirmation followed a weeks-long saga over a controversial personal settlement Blanche authorized for Trump over leaks of his tax information years ago.
Blanche, who's served in the job in an acting capacity since Trump fired Pam Bondi in April, will now officially lead a Justice Department that's been transformed during Trump's second term.
Blanche has overseen attempts to prosecute some of the president's perceived enemies, diverted resources to Trump's hard-line immigration crackdown, and launched a campaign against higher education institutions over admissions and diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
In addition, thousands of seasoned staff members have departed the agency, including many who worked on investigations of Trump and some of his allies.
In choosing Blanche, Trump promoted one of his former defense lawyers to be the top U.S. law enforcer. Blanche served as Trump's defense attorney in criminal cases relating to the 2020 election, his handling of classified documents and alleged hush-money payments.
Blanche's confirmation was effectively stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee until he published
Administration critics
On Friday, Cassidy acknowledged that Blanche had shown "poor judgment" in approving the anti-weaponization fund and exempting the president from IRS audits. He also raised concerns about "apparent lawfare" within the Justice Department, under both parties.
But Cassidy also said Blanche has been blamed for things over which he has had no control. He said Blanche knows the law and is a "hands-on administrator" who has instructed U.S. attorneys to focus on violent crime, human and drug trafficking and fraud in government health care programs.
"All considered, I will vote for Mr. Blanche. I'll be criticized for this vote. What's new?" Cassidy said.
Democrats have vehemently resisted Blanche's confirmation all along, citing his handling of the Justice Department's probe into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, attempts at prosecuting Trump's perceived foes that have often failed and the departure of thousands of attorneys and staff members from the department under his leadership.
