Todd Blanche Sworn In as U.S. Attorney General

U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche was sworn in during an Oval Office ceremony on Monday, August 11, 2026. He succeeds Pam Bondi after a narrow Senate confirmation vote on Saturday, which saw all Democrats and three Republicans—Senators Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Jeanne Shaheen—oppose the appointment.

Blanche, a former personal lawyer for President Donald Trump and former acting attorney general, faced scrutiny over his ties to the president and his role in creating a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. This fund was designed to compensate individuals prosecuted in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack. While Blanche stated the fund would not move forward during his tenure, President Trump indicated the final decision rests with Blanche.

Critics, including Representative Jamie Raskin and former DOJ prosecutor Ryan Crosswell, characterized the appointment as the installation of a personal lawyer to lead the nation's top law enforcement agency. Conversely, supporters like Senator Chuck Grassley argued that Blanche's track record and committee presentation made him the right choice to lead the Department of Justice.