Senate narrowly approves Todd Blanche as AG, capping tough confirmation fight
Blanche won confirmation after he rescinded a disputed settlement fund and narrowed tax-audit immunity to secure Republican votes, including decisive support from Bill Cassidy.
- The Senate voted 50–49 to confirm Todd Blanche as U.S. Attorney General, ending a contentious confirmation fight and officially installing President Donald Trump's former criminal defense lawyer atop the Department of Justice.
- Sen. Bill Cassidy provided the decisive swing vote after declaring his support on the floor, while Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joined all Democrats in opposing the nomination.
- The pre-dawn 4:31 a.m. vote took place immediately before the Senate adjourned for a five-week recess, granting Blanche full confirmation after serving in an acting capacity since Trump removed former AG Pam Bondi in April.
- Confirmation prospects were stalled for weeks over a controversial $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" and tax immunity provisions stemming from a DOJ settlement with Trump over his leaked IRS records.
- Blanche secured key Republican votes by offering written assurances, officially rescinding the payout fund and clarifying that tax audit immunity applied only to existing claims and did not protect against future tax filings.
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Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, was confirmed as Attorney General of the United States. Rod Lamkey Jr./AP Photo The United States Senate confirmed this Saturday's early morning (8) Todd Blanche, Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, as Attorney General of the country. The nomination was approved by tight margin: 50 senators voted in favour and 49 against. Before joining the government, Blanche acted as Trump's defence lawyer in va…
The U.S. Senate elects Donald Trump's ex-lawyer as the new Minister of Justice. The decision was preceded by a week-long dispute over doubts about his independence.
Blanche confirmed as AG despite deep concerns
The US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a vote early on Saturday, cementing US President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney’s command of a Justice Department the Republican president has sought to bend to his will. The Republican-led Senate voted 50-49 to make Blanche the second confirmed attorney general since Trump returned to the White House last year with a stated desire to use the law enforcement agency to investiga…
With 50 to 49 votes, it was a very narrow majority: the US Senate confirmed the former commissioner's Minister of Justice Todd Blanche in office. Previously, however, he had to make concessions on issues of dispute.
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