President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, has been confirmed as the United States attorney general after Senate Republicans overcame Democratic opposition to approve his nomination by a narrow 50-49 vote.
The confirmation gives Blanche permanent control of the Justice Department after he had served as acting attorney general since April, following Trump’s removal of Pam Bondi.
Blanche’s confirmation was closely watched because of his previous role as Trump’s private defence lawyer and concerns from Democrats and some Republicans that his close relationship with the president could undermine the independence of the Justice Department.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy ultimately provided a crucial vote for Blanche after securing assurances over controversial initiatives that had threatened to derail the nomination.
Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted against confirmation, joining Democrats in opposition.
Democrats had opposed Blanche from the outset, arguing that his history as Trump’s lawyer raised questions about whether he could separate his responsibilities as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer from his loyalty to the president.
Senator Dick Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, accused Blanche of continuing to act as Trump’s personal lawyer and treating the Justice Department as though it had “one client — the president.”
The most significant Republican concerns centred on a controversial agreement involving Trump and the Justice Department.
The arrangement initially included a proposed $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund”, established after Trump pursued legal action against the Internal Revenue Service over the handling of his tax records.
The fund was designed to compensate people who claimed to have been victims of government overreach and could potentially have benefited Trump allies and people prosecuted over the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
The proposal drew criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike, forcing Blanche to make concessions as he sought confirmation.
Blanche subsequently scrapped the fund, telling lawmakers that the Justice Department would not proceed with it.
A separate part of the agreement involving restrictions on IRS audits of Trump, his family and related businesses also generated controversy. Blanche later narrowed the arrangement so that the protection would apply retrospectively rather than to future tax filings, helping to ease opposition among Republican senators.
Blanche’s confirmation comes as the Justice Department faces intense scrutiny over its independence under Trump’s second administration.
Critics have accused the department of pursuing politically motivated investigations against Trump’s opponents, while Trump’s supporters argue that Blanche is an experienced prosecutor and lawyer capable of restoring fairness to the Justice Department.
Before joining the administration, Blanche represented Trump in his New York criminal case involving payments to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels.
He also served on Trump’s defence teams in federal cases involving the alleged mishandling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Both cases were dismissed after Trump returned to the White House following the 2024 election.
Blanche has also faced criticism over the Justice Department’s handling of investigative files relating to Jeffrey Epstein.
His confirmation now places Trump’s former personal lawyer permanently at the helm of the Justice Department at a time when questions over political influence, prosecutorial independence and the rule of law remain at the centre of America’s political debate.
