WASHINGTON — The United States Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche as the nation’s 88th Attorney General, concluding a grueling, weeks-long political battle on Capitol Hill. The confirmation, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, August 8, was secured through a narrow 50-49 party-line vote.
The confirmation process served as a significant test of President Donald Trump’s influence over the Senate Republican caucus, highlighting a deep-seated apprehension among some GOP members regarding the current trajectory of the Department of Justice. Following the vote, Blanche expressed his gratitude, stating, “I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me to lead the Department of Justice as our great nation’s 88th Attorney General. I am grateful to the Senate for staying late to complete this process.”
White House officials confirmed that preparations were underway to have the President swear Blanche into office as soon as possible. White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis praised the confirmation, noting that Blanche had already played a critical role at the DOJ in advocating for law and order. “Todd Blanche has done an excellent job as acting Attorney General and will continue doing so as Attorney General,” Bis stated.
The path to confirmation was fraught with uncertainty, particularly regarding the position of Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Cassidy emerged as a pivotal swing vote on Friday morning, announcing his support for Blanche just hours after Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska declared she would oppose the nomination. Murkowski cited the administration’s “accelerated” politicization of the DOJ as her primary reason for withholding support.
Explaining his decision, Cassidy acknowledged that while Blanche might not be a perfect candidate, he feared that rejecting the nomination would lead President Trump to propose an even less desirable alternative. “The choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche. It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump,” Cassidy remarked on the Senate floor.
Cassidy did not shy away from criticizing Blanche’s past actions, specifically noting that the nominee had shown “poor judgment” by approving an “anti-weaponization” fund and granting immunity to President Trump regarding IRS audits. Furthermore, Cassidy expressed concern over the DOJ’s pursuit of cases against political opponents. Despite these reservations, he commended Blanche as a “hands-on administrator” who has prioritized combating violent crime, fraud, and drug trafficking.
The opposition from moderate Republicans, including Murkowski and Senator Susan Collins of Maine, placed the nomination in jeopardy. Collins had announced her opposition on August 4, citing concerns over the immunity deal provided to the President. With these defections, Blanche required the support of every other Republican present to secure his confirmation.
The nomination process had been volatile since June, when President Trump first nominated Blanche to serve as the permanent Attorney General following the departure of Pam Bondi. Earlier in the summer, Senators John Cornyn and Ted Tillis had initially voiced concerns regarding the DOJ’s settlement with the Trump family. The lawsuit had alleged that the IRS owed the Trump family $10 billion due to a contractor’s failure to prevent a leak of tax information.
To secure the support of Cornyn and Tillis, Blanche made several concessions, including formally dropping the proposed $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. This fund had faced widespread criticism for potentially using taxpayer dollars to benefit Trump supporters involved in legal disputes. Additionally, Blanche issued documentation clarifying that the immunity granted to the President regarding tax issues was strictly limited to Trump himself.
Despite these concessions, critics remain skeptical. Opponents argue that the initial deal’s terms, which require written agreement from all parties—including the President—to modify, leave too much room for future manipulation. Some legal observers have suggested that Blanche could still alter his commitments once in office.
The Senate Judiciary Committee had previously advanced the nomination on a 12-10 party-line vote earlier in the week. During a July 15 hearing, Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa defended the DOJ’s record under Blanche, highlighting the department’s success in capturing fugitives on the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list and arresting individuals involved in the illegal fentanyl trade.
The confirmation marks a definitive shift for the Department of Justice as it enters a new phase under Blanche’s leadership. While the political friction on Capitol Hill underscored deep divisions within the Republican party, the successful vote ensures that the administration’s preferred candidate will oversee the nation’s chief law enforcement agency for the remainder of the term.
8, happened in the dead of night.
She also took issue with Blanche’s handling of the Epstein files and what she described as “sweeping immunity protections” he gave Trump in a controversial settlement.
4 that she also couldn’t support Blanche’s bid.
Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina – all of whom recently expressed serious reservations about Blanche, as well as their views of the politicization of the Justice Department more generally – ultimately threw their support behind President Donald Trump ‘s former personal lawyer.
“This is great news and we look forward to his final confirmation shortly.
Her announcement followed Collins’ statement Aug.
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has been recovering from a fall and pneumonia and ultimately did not vote.
But it’s not clear McConnell would have been a yes, either – he has repeatedly denounced the “anti-weaponization” fund, too.
The pair later agreed to get behind Blanche after he made concessions when it came to the DOJ settlement conferring benefits to Trump and Trump allies.
The deal attempted to settle a lawsuit brought by Trump, his two oldest sons and the Trump Organization.
The Trumps said they were dropping their lawsuit in exchange for government promises.
It also promised the Trump associates immunity from potential government claims against them, including for their past tax returns.
The New York Times reported in 2020 that Trump was in a decade-long audit battle with the IRS over a claimed $72.9 million tax refund.
Losing that battle could cost him more than $100 million, according to the Times.
The deal has been widely criticized as self-dealing on Trump’s part, given he nominates and can fire DOJ leaders.
Williams ruled July 13 the lawsuit was essentially an attempt to legitimize giving the president benefits, and prohibited the Trumps from using or referring to the deal in any official proceedings.
However, it’s unclear whether and how her order constrains the DOJ’s and IRS’s private dealings with the president.
Facing bipartisan backlash from Congress, Blanche previously said the DOJ wouldn’t move forward with the fund.
They also say Blanche could change his mind, or find other ways to direct taxpayer funds to Jan.
“There is enough weasel room in these documents to drive a truck through,” Sen.
Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, said at an Aug.
4 hearing, shortly before the Judiciary Committee approved Blanche’s nomination along party lines.
Blanche has also come under fire for pursuing federal charges in North Carolina against former FBI Director James Comey, a prominent Trump critic.
Trump publicly called for Comey to face unspecified charges in a September 2025 social media post.
The charges allege Comey threatened to harm or kill the president by posting on social media an image of seashells in the shape of “86 47.” ” 86 ” is a slang term that means “to throw out” or “to get rid of,” according to Merriam-Webster.
Tillis himself criticized the case at the Aug.
“The ’86 47′ – some bonehead in North Carolina thinks that that’s a crime.
Well, they better damn sure have information to back it up, because if all it is is a picture, that person should lose his job, his or her job,” Tillis said.
Blanche held a press conference April 29 at which he personally announced the charges.
The first case, alleging Comey lied to Congress, was dismissed in November.
“Some have called that faint praise.