The Senate narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a 50-49 vote early Saturday, capping one of the most contentious confirmation fights of President Trump's second term and installing his former personal defense lawyer atop the Justice Department.
The vote, taken after 4 a.m. following a marathon overnight session, split almost entirely along party lines. Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the only Republicans to vote against Blanche, joining every Democrat in opposition. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who had wavered, announced Friday he would back the nomination, saying he viewed Blanche as the best option Trump was likely to put forward.
A bruising fight over independence
Murkowski explained her opposition in a statement:
The country needs an Attorney General who will check the worst impulses of this administration. I hope Mr. Blanche is able to achieve that, if confirmed, but I simply do not have confidence that will be the case.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Collins cited similar concerns in her own statement:
While I believe Mr. Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice has become increasingly political.
Sen. Susan Collins
Blanche, 51, a former federal prosecutor who represented Trump in his criminal defense before joining the administration, had served as deputy attorney general since March 2025 and became acting attorney general in April after Trump removed Pam Bondi amid frustration over her handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump formally nominated Blanche for the top job in June.
What it means for the Justice Department
Blanche said he was "deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed" in him to lead the department as its 88th attorney general, and pledged to carry out the president's agenda, according to a statement released after the vote. Democrats and some Republicans had raised concerns during the confirmation process about whether Blanche, given his personal ties to Trump, could act independently on politically sensitive investigations. Supporters countered that his prosecutorial background and the months he had already spent running the department made him a steady choice.
With confirmation secured, Blanche is expected to be sworn in without delay, allowing him to continue overseeing the department's work without the acting-director caveats that have shadowed his tenure since the spring.
