Todd Blanche confirmed as U.S. Attorney General by Senate
The U.S. Senate has narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as Attorney General in a 50-49 vote. Blanche, a former personal attorney for President Donald Trump, has been serving in an acting capacity since April.
The confirmation followed intense debate over Blanche's potential lack of independence. While Republican control of the Senate allowed the nomination to pass, Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted against him. Senator Bill Cassidy provided the deciding vote.
During the confirmation process, Blanche addressed concerns regarding his role in establishing a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund and a tax-immunity agreement for the Trump family. He reportedly agreed in writing to end the weaponization payments and narrow the immunity agreement to secure enough support.
Democrats, led by Senator Dick Durbin, criticized the appointment, arguing that Blanche's history as the president's personal lawyer raises concerns that the Department of Justice will be used to target political adversaries rather than serve the public.
Entities: Department of Justice · Dick Durbin · Donald Trump · Todd Blanche · U.S. Senate
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Senator Bill Cassidy provided the deciding vote for the confirmation. (U.S. Senate)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Republican senators expressed concerns regarding Blanche's handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents. (U.S. Senate)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Blanche agreed in writing to end 'weaponization' payments and narrow a tax-immunity agreement to secure confirmation. (Todd Blanche)
- [DISPUTED] The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as Attorney General with a 50-49 vote. (U.S. Senate)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Todd Blanche expressed gratitude for the Senate's work and for the President's trust in him. (Todd Blanche)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Blanche had been serving as acting attorney general since April. (U.S. Senate)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted against the nomination. (U.S. Senate)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Senator Dick Durbin accused Blanche of treating the Department of Justice like a private law firm for the president. (Senator Dick Durbin)