The United States Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general early Saturday morning, placing President Trump’s former defense lawyer at the head of the nation’s top law enforcement agency. The victory was narrow, coming by a single vote in a 50-49 split. While most Republicans backed the nominee, Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joined all Democrats in opposing him. The final outcome hinged on Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, whose decision to support the nomination paved the way for Blanche to take office despite the absence of Senator Mitch McConnell.

Blanche arrives at the Justice Department after serving as deputy attorney general and briefly stepping in as acting attorney general following Pam Bondi’s departure in April. His journey to confirmation was fraught with controversy, primarily centered on a proposed 1.8 billion dollar anti weaponization fund intended to compensate individuals who claimed they were targeted by the federal government. This fund emerged from a massive settlement between the department and Donald Trump regarding a lawsuit over leaked tax returns, alongside provisions granting broad immunity from audits to the president and his inner circle.

To secure enough Republican votes to pass through the Senate Judiciary Committee, Blanche had to make significant concessions. Following intense negotiations with Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, Blanche formally rescinded the order establishing the controversial payout fund and narrowed the scope of the tax immunity deal. Despite these pivots, critics like Senator Collins argued that such arrangements fundamentally eroded the independence of the Justice Department, leading her to ultimately vote against him.

Beyond policy disputes, Blanche’s history as Trump’s legal shield loomed large over his hearings. Having defended the president in both state hush money charges and federal cases led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, his transition from private defense attorney to chief prosecutor raised questions about impartiality. Additionally, he faced scrutiny for his handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein and criticism from survivors who described a required meeting with them as little more than a political exercise meant to clear his path toward confirmation.

Following the announcement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hailed the result as a major win for the administration and promised that Blanche’s commitment to law and order would serve Americans well. For his part, Blanche expressed deep honor at being trusted by President Trump to lead the department, marking a definitive shift in leadership for federal law enforcement as he steps into one of the most powerful roles in Washington.