Trump’s Personal Lawyer Confirmed as Attorney General by a Single Vote

The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche, President Trump’s former personal defense attorney, as U.S. attorney general by a 50-49 vote at roughly 4:31 a.m. Saturday, capping weeks of uncertainty over his nomination. Blanche has run the Justice Department on an acting basis since April, when Trump fired then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, and his path to confirmation only cleared Friday when Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana announced from the floor he would vote yes, eliminating the risk of a third Republican defection. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the only GOP members to vote no, and every Senate Democrat opposed the nomination [1]. Collins said in a statement that while she believes “Mr. Blanche is a capable lawyer,” she is troubled that “the Department of Justice has become increasingly political.” Murkowski said she had “numerous constructive meetings” with Blanche and called him “decent and capable,” but added she did not “have confidence” he could reverse what she described as the politicization and “weaponization” of the department [2]. Democrats tore into Blanche during the confirmation fight over his handling of the Epstein files and Justice Department cases brought against Trump’s political opponents [3].

Why It Sucks:

Trump Republicans

• Loyalist finally gets the permanent job. After four months of an acting attorney general following Pam Bondi’s firing, Trump Republicans see Blanche’s confirmation as ending a leadership vacuum at the top of the Justice Department at a critical moment [1].
• A one-vote margin still counts as a win. Backers argue that 50-49 is a win regardless, and that Cassidy’s last-minute floor announcement proves the conference ultimately falls in line behind Trump’s picks even after weeks of public wavering [1].
• DOJ can now move past “acting” limbo. Supporters say a Senate-confirmed AG, rather than an acting one, gives Blanche full legal standing to pursue investigations and policy priorities without an unresolved nomination hanging over every decision [1].

Institutionalist Republicans

• Two GOP senators say the DOJ is already too political. Collins voted no specifically because she believes “the Department of Justice has become increasingly political,” a concern she raised despite calling Blanche personally capable [2].
• Murkowski doubts he can undo the “weaponization.” Murkowski said her many meetings with Blanche left her without confidence that he could reverse what she calls the politicization of the department, even after describing him as “decent and capable” [2].
• A one-vote margin exposes how thin the mandate is. With only 50 votes and two Republican defections, institutionalists warn that installing a president’s own former personal lawyer atop the Justice Department on the barest possible margin sets a precedent that could erode the department’s independence long after Trump leaves office [1, 2].

Senate Democrats

• Not one Democrat backed the nomination. Every Senate Democrat voted against Blanche, reflecting unified opposition to elevating the president’s former personal defense lawyer to run the agency that investigates the president [1].
• Epstein files handling raised alarms. Democrats grilled Blanche during the confirmation fight over his handling of the Epstein files, arguing it previewed how he would manage politically sensitive investigations as attorney general [3].
• Cases against Trump’s foes look like retribution. Democrats pointed to Justice Department cases brought against Trump’s political opponents under Blanche’s acting leadership as evidence the department is being used against the administration’s enemies rather than operating independently [3].

Sources & Citations:

[1] NBC News: Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general after weeks of uncertainty
[2] ABC News: Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general
[3] The Hill: Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general after bruising fight