Blanche, Trump’s former lawyer, confirmed as Attorney General
The appointment strengthens the President’s control over the Department of Justice but fuels controversy over the institution’s independence
The US Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche as the new Attorney General, handing Donald Trump one of the most controversial appointments of his second term. The president’s former personal lawyer was approved by the narrowest of margins – 50 votes in favour and 49 against – following a lengthy political battle that highlighted divisions even within the Republican Party.
The confirmation represents a significant victory for Trump, who now sees one of his staunchest supporters take the helm of the Department of Justice at a particularly delicate time for the administration. Blanche, 52, had previously served as acting attorney general following the dismissal of Pam Bondi and had previously held the post of deputy attorney general. Before joining the administration, he had become best known for defending Trump in the legal proceedings involving him in recent years.
The vote was far from a foregone conclusion. Two moderate Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, decided to oppose the nomination, expressing doubts about Blanche’s ability to maintain the Department of Justice’s independence from the White House. The vote of Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy proved decisive, enabling the nominee to secure the necessary majority.
At the heart of the allegations were both the personal and professional ties between Blanche and Trump and certain decisions taken during her time as acting head of the Department of Justice. In particular, several Republican senators had initially blocked her confirmation process by demanding clarification on a controversial fund of around $1.8 billion intended to compensate alleged victims of the ‘political exploitation’ of federal institutions. To secure approval, Blanche agreed to formally scrap the fund and to restrict certain aspects of a tax settlement involving Trump and his family.
These reassurances were not enough to quell criticism from the Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced the appointment as a further step towards the politicisation of the Department of Justice, arguing that Blanche’s confirmation risks undermining the independence of the agency responsible for enforcing federal law. Numerous observers have also expressed concern that a former personal lawyer to the President is now in charge of the entire federal judicial system.
