The United States Senate has officially confirmed Todd Blanche as the country's new Attorney General. In his new role, Blanche will serve as the primary legal official for President Donald Trump. The confirmation process was highly contentious, with the nomination nearly stalling due to bipartisan concerns regarding Blanche's impartiality. Ultimately, he secured approval in a narrow 50-49 vote.
Blanche faced significant difficulty in garnering support, struggling even to secure backing from members of his own Republican Party. Notably, Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted against his confirmation. Prior to this appointment, Blanche had been serving as the acting Attorney General since April, having previously managed the daily operations of the Department of Justice as its second-in-command.
During the nomination process, Republican senators raised specific concerns regarding Blanche's past involvement in several high-profile matters. These included his role in the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, his participation in the establishment of a $1.8 billion fund for Donald Trump, and his involvement in tax exemption agreements for the former president and his sons. These agreements had effectively prevented the IRS from auditing the tax returns of Trump, his sons, and their family businesses, a situation stemming from a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Trump against the IRS.
Following a series of discussions on Capitol Hill over the last several weeks, Blanche managed to address these challenges. He agreed in writing to limit the tax exemption agreements and to cease controversial payments. However, questions persist regarding whether these promises are legally binding and whether President Trump could eventually compel Blanche to revive similar programs under different names. This ambiguity remained a primary concern for the final two Republican senators to offer their support, Bill Cassidy and Lisa Murkowski.
Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, praised the appointment on Friday, describing Blanche as a firm and upright prosecutor dedicated to the rule of law. Many Republicans view the former New York prosecutor as the most acceptable of Trump's nominees, expressing confidence that he will be capable of resisting pressure from the White House while serving in the permanent position.