Todd Blanche, Trump's ex-lawyer, confirmed as US attorney general

What the report says

Todd Blanche, a former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, has been confirmed by the US Senate as attorney general, the country’s top law enforcement post, according to BBC World News. The vote was close, 50-49, and ended a protracted dispute between the Trump administration and Senate Republicans over whether Blanche should lead the Justice Department.

BBC reported that Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted against him, while Senator Bill Cassidy cast the decisive vote after saying he believed Blanche would be the best choice the president would put forward. All Democrats opposed the nomination. Blanche had been serving as acting attorney general since April, after Pam Bondi was removed, and had already been deputy attorney general.

The confirmation followed concerns raised during the hearing process. Some senators questioned Blanche’s role in handling Jeffrey Epstein-related document releases and his involvement in setting up Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. Critics worried the fund could be used to compensate people convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack. Blanche later said he would withdraw the plan, though BBC noted it was unclear how binding that commitment would be.

The vote matters because it settles leadership at the Justice Department at a time of heightened political tension over its independence and its role in crime enforcement.