US Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general despite Democratic opposition

Republicans narrowly control the Senate, allowing for his confirmation despite concerns from Democrats regarding the politicization of the Justice Department. Democrats, including Senator Dick Durbin, ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, argued that Blanche would continue to act as the president's personal lawyer, treating the Justice Department as a firm serving one client. Blanche had been serving as acting attorney general since April after the firing of Pam Bondi.

Prior to his government role, Blanche represented Trump in various legal matters, including the New York "hush money" trial involving Stormy Daniels and two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith concerning classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. These federal cases were dropped after Trump won the 2024 presidential election. Doubts about his confirmation were overcome after Blanche issued a written order scrapping a proposed $1.8 billion fund for victims of politicized prosecutions and clarifying that an immunity agreement for Trump and his sons from tax audits would only apply retroactively to past tax years.