US Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general amid independence concerns
The US Senate narrowly confirmed Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Todd Blanche as attorney general by a 50-49 vote, with two Republican senators joining Democrats in opposition. The confirmation raised concerns over the Justice Department's independence from the White House.
The US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, as attorney general in the early hours of Saturday, following a tense and narrow vote of 50 to 49. Republican senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski broke with their party to vote against the nomination alongside Democrats, highlighting the political sensitivity surrounding the pick.
Blanche had already been serving as acting attorney general and is now the second confirmed attorney general since Trump returned to office. Before joining the administration, he represented Trump as a private attorney in several high-profile cases, including the New York hush money trial involving Stormy Daniels and two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith, both of which were dropped after Trump's 2024 election win.
Independence questioned
The confirmation process exposed significant unease, including among some Republicans, about placing a close Trump ally at the head of a department that has traditionally valued its independence from the White House. Democrats, led by Senator Dick Durbin, argued that Blanche continues to act as Trump's personal attorney rather than as an independent law enforcement official.
A major point of contention was a proposed $1.8 billion fund intended for people described as victims of politicized prosecution, potentially including participants in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Another sticking point was a proposal to grant Trump immunity from tax audits. Blanche resolved internal Republican opposition over the weekend by dropping the fund proposal and limiting the audit immunity arrangement to past tax years only.
Blanche has held the acting role since April, when Trump dismissed previous attorney general Pam Bondi, and has since been linked to what Democrats describe as a Trump-driven 'retribution' campaign against political opponents. He has also faced criticism from victims of Jeffrey Epstein regarding the handling of released investigative files.
