Senate Confirms Todd Blanche as Attorney General in 50-49 Vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as the 88th Attorney General in a narrow 50-49 vote early Saturday, August 8, 2026. Blanche, a former personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, had served as acting attorney general since April 2026 following the firing of Pam Bondi. The confirmation was secured after Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana provided the decisive 50th vote, arguing that a confirmed official has more leverage to manage the president than an acting one.

To secure the necessary Republican support, specifically from Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, Blanche provided written assurances to rescind a controversial $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund intended to compensate allies of the president. He also agreed to narrow tax-audit immunity protections for Donald Trump and his family to apply only to retroactive filings.

Opposition to the nomination came from all Democrats and Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. Critics cited the politicization of the Department of Justice, the handling of Jeffrey Epstein files, and Blanche's commitment to protecting pro-life state laws from outside actors. Following the vote, President Trump attacked Senator Murkowski on social media, reposting messages calling her a traitor.