The Senate voted early Saturday to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general, delivering a significant victory for President Trump after a prolonged and contentious confirmation process. Blanche, Trump's former personal attorney, will now lead the Justice Department and oversee federal law enforcement.
The confirmation vote was extraordinarily close, passing 50 to 49. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cast the deciding vote in Blanche's favor after fellow Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against him. Every Democratic senator opposed the nomination.
Blanche's path to confirmation revealed deep divisions within the Republican Party. The nomination stalled for weeks as GOP senators raised concerns about the department's proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" designed to compensate those who claimed to be victims of political prosecution, as well as a deal that would grant the president, his sons, and their businesses tax immunity.
Murkowski announced her opposition on the basis of these controversial provisions. "The Department's nearly $2-billion dollar slush fund, which likely would have rewarded January 6 protesters, is only off the table because this nomination is pending and the Senate has leverage," she said, noting that leverage would disappear once confirmation occurred.
Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina initially withheld their support as well. Both agreed to back Blanche after he provided written confirmation that the fund would not proceed and clarified the scope of the IRS deal. Trump had previously threatened to keep Blanche in an acting capacity for months if the Senate blocked him.
Blanche also faced criticism over the Justice Department's handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents, which improperly redacted some information while leaving victim names visible. During his confirmation hearing, Blanche initially refused to meet with Epstein survivors but later agreed to do so. Survivors reported receiving few substantive answers from that meeting.
Senator Collins, who voted against Blanche, expressed concern about the Justice Department's independence. "While I believe Mr Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice has become increasingly political," she said. "Mr Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the department's independence."
Cassidy acknowledged the difficult nature of his decision. "Mr Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this, but the choice is not between perfection and Mr Blanche," Cassidy said on the Senate floor. "It is between Mr Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump."
The confirmation vote concluded early Saturday as the Senate wrapped up business before beginning a five-week recess. Lawmakers also passed legislation to fund the federal government through December 11 before adjourning.