Senate Narrowly Confirms Todd Blanche as Attorney General
In a vote that came down to the wire, the U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as the nation's 88th Attorney General on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The final tally, 50 to 49, left almost no room to spare and underscored just how divided lawmakers remained over the nomination right up to the end.
The confirmation caps a turbulent stretch for the Justice Department, one marked by leadership turnover, allegations of political entanglement, and a last-minute deal that reshaped the terms of Blanche's appointment before senators would sign off.
A Vote Decided by a Single Senator
The confirmation ultimately hinged on Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, whose vote proved decisive in pushing Blanche across the finish line. Cassidy explained his support by saying he viewed Blanche as the strongest choice the president was likely to put forward, a pragmatic rationale rather than an enthusiastic endorsement.
Not every Republican fell in line, though. Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine broke from their party and joined Senate Democrats in voting against the nomination, a reminder that even a Republican-controlled chamber doesn't guarantee unanimous support on contentious picks.
The vote itself took place in the early morning hours, squeezed in just before the Senate departed for a five-week recess — timing that added a sense of urgency, and perhaps pressure, to an already tense process.
From Trump's Personal Lawyer to Acting AG
Blanche's path to the role is unusual. A former federal prosecutor, he later became known as Donald Trump's personal criminal defense attorney before stepping into government service. He had been serving as acting Attorney General since April 2026, after his predecessor, Pam Bondi, was removed from the post.
That acting role placed him at the center of one of the most closely watched controversies of his tenure: the settlement of Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. The resulting deal created a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund and extended tax-audit immunity to Trump and his sons — provisions that drew immediate and sustained criticism from lawmakers questioning whether the Justice Department was operating independently.
The Compromise That Cleared the Path to Confirmation
Facing mounting resistance, Blanche agreed in writing to scale back the tax-immunity terms and halt the anti-weaponization payments tied to the IRS settlement. That written commitment appears to have been enough to bring wavering senators, including Cassidy, on board, even as it did little to satisfy his sharpest critics.
Sharp Reactions From Both Sides of the Aisle
Blanche responded to his confirmation on social media platform X, saying he felt honored by the confidence President Trump had placed in him.
Democrats were far less charitable. Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin called the confirmation a serious mistake, arguing that Blanche runs the Department of Justice as though it were a private law firm answering to one client rather than the public. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer went further, suggesting the confirmation effectively gives the administration cover to continue what he described as sweeping corruption.
Republicans, by contrast, framed Blanche as a principled pick. Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley described him as a tough, fair prosecutor committed to upholding the rule of law, pushing back directly against the narrative advanced by Democratic critics.
The Bottom Line
Todd Blanche now leads the Justice Department with the narrowest possible Senate mandate and a confirmation process that exposed deep unease, even within his own party, about his ties to the president and his role in the IRS settlement. The written concessions he made to secure confirmation may have satisfied enough senators for now, but the sharply divided reaction suggests questions about the department's independence under his leadership are far from settled.
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