Senate Confirms Todd Blanche as Attorney General

The United States Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as the 88th Attorney General on Friday. Blanche, who had served as acting Attorney General since April 2026 and previously as Deputy Attorney General, secured the position with a 50-50 tie-breaking vote provided by Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

Senator Cassidy justified his support by arguing that a confirmed Attorney General possesses more leverage to manage the Department of Justice and push back against President Donald Trump than an acting official. Cassidy, who is leaving office in January after losing his reelection bid, stated that the decision was not a referendum on the president but a choice between Blanche and potentially less effective alternatives.

Opposition to the nomination came from Democrats and several Republicans, including Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. Critics cited concerns over the handling of Jeffrey Epstein files, a controversial I.R.S. immunity settlement for President Trump, and the creation of an anti-weaponization slush fund. Senator Murkowski highlighted the accelerated weaponization of the department, while Senator Collins argued that Blanche's actions eroded the agency's independence.

The confirmation follows a period of internal turmoil at the Justice Department marked by the purging of federal employees and the pursuit of political adversaries. Additionally, survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell campaigned against the nomination, alleging that Blanche's management of Epstein-related records constituted a cover-up.