Senate Confirms Todd Blanche As Attorney General

Aug 08, 2026 08:22 PM - 1 hour ago 4

Topline

Todd Blanche was confirmed arsenic President Donald Trump's Attorney General successful an overnight ballot aft Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., switched to a "yes" and gave Blanche the past ballot he needed for a 50-49 confirmation.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., talks pinch reporters successful the U.S. Capitol connected Wednesday, August 5, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Key Facts

Cassidy said successful a level reside Friday “Blanche is not perfect, but the prime is not betwixt perfection and Mr. Blanche. It is betwixt Mr. Blanche and different acting lawyer wide who whitethorn not tally the section efficaciously nether President Trump, and who so whitethorn not beryllium arsenic bully arsenic Mr. Blanche."

Cassidy’s determination comes aft Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced earlier Friday she would ballot against Blanche because she can’t spot him to “check the worst impulses of this administration,” noting respective Justice Department decisions she has opposed during Trump’s 2nd term, including its handling of the Epstein files, the targeting of Trump’s governmental enemies and immunity granted to Trump and his family.

Republicans Murkowski and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, arsenic good arsenic each Democrats, voted against Blanch’s information (Sen. Mitch McConnell’s, R-Ky., is still absent from the Senate).

Key Background

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to beforehand Blanche’s information aft Blanche agreed to formally termination the $1.8 cardinal anti-weaponization money for Trump’s friends successful an statement to unafraid votes from 2 GOP holdouts, Sens. John Cornyn, Texas, and Thom Tillis, N.C., Despite Blanche’s assurances, location are concerns the money could beryllium revived since Trump didn’t motion an statement to modify his colony pinch the IRS that established the fund. Collins said Tuesday she would ballot against Blanche, citing the IRS colony and his guidance to restrict message transportation of abortion pills. Blanche, who was appointed to switch Pam Bondi aft Trump fired her successful April, tin proceed serving arsenic interim lawyer wide while his information is pending.