Todd Blanche confirmed as attorney general in 50-49 Senate vote

The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general early Saturday morning, approving President Donald Trump's former personal defense lawyer by a single vote, 50 to 49. The vote, one of the chamber's final actions before the August recess, fell largely along party lines, with Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana casting the deciding vote after a lengthy stand-off, according to reports. Blanche, who had been serving as acting attorney general, replaces Pam Bondi at the head of the Justice Department. He has served as deputy attorney general since January 2025 and, since May, as acting librarian of Congress — an appointment whose legality has been disputed. Before joining the administration, he was Trump's personal defense lawyer. He also oversaw a $1.8 billion fund compensating political allies of the president, which drew criticism. The narrow margin reflects the doubts surrounding his independence. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski announced she would vote no, and lawmakers from both parties questioned whether Blanche could lead the department independently of Trump. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Republicans had handed Trump an excuse on a silver platter to continue what he called pervasive, breathtaking corruption.

Senate confirms Blanche by a single vote

The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in an early Saturday morning vote, one of the chamber's final actions before the August recess. The tally was 50 to 49, a single-vote margin, with the vote falling largely along party lines. One cluster of reports dates the confirmation to August 8, though most sources do not give an exact date.

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana was reported to have cast the deciding vote after a lengthy stand-off, according to accounts of the proceedings; sources differ on the detail of how the final votes aligned, and the full breakdown beyond Cassidy and Lisa Murkowski is not detailed. In the days before the vote, Blanche had been widely expected to win confirmation after securing pivotal Senate support.

Blanche, who had been serving as acting attorney general ahead of the vote, replaced Pam Bondi in the permanent role. He has served as deputy attorney general since January 2025.

From Trump's defense lawyer to the Justice Department's top job

Todd Blanche arrived at the Justice Department's top job by an unusual route. Before joining the administration, he served as President Donald Trump's personal defense lawyer. He became U.S. deputy attorney general in January 2025, and later stepped in as acting attorney general ahead of his confirmation to the permanent role, replacing Pam Bondi.

Alongside those duties, Blanche has served since May 2025 as acting librarian of Congress, an appointment whose legality has been disputed.

Despite questions from lawmakers in both parties about whether he could lead the department independently of the president, Blanche entered the final stretch with momentum. In the days before the vote, he was widely expected to be confirmed and secured pivotal Senate support for his nomination, setting up the early-morning Saturday vote that made his appointment permanent.

1. January 2025

   Todd Blanche began serving as U.S. deputy attorney general.

2. May 2025

   Blanche began serving as acting librarian of Congress, an appointment whose legality has been disputed.

3. Before the confirmation vote

   Blanche was serving as acting attorney general ahead of his confirmation to the permanent role.

4. Days before the vote

   Blanche was widely expected to be confirmed and secured pivotal Senate support for his nomination.

5. Before the vote

   A small group of Republican senators threatened to block Blanche's nomination.

6. Before the vote

   Senator Lisa Murkowski announced she planned to vote against the nomination, a move described as putting the confirmation in jeopardy.

7. Early Saturday morning, before theAugust

   The Senate confirmed Blanche as attorney general in one of its final actions before the August recess, with the vote falling largely along party lines.

8. August 8

   Senate Republicans confirmed Blanche, ending a contentious confirmation process; reports put the tally at 50 to 49, with Senator Bill Cassidy casting the deciding vote after a lengthy stand-off.

9. After the confirmation

   The confirmation prompted backlash from critics who described Blanche as loyal to Trump, and Senator Chuck Schumer accused Republicans of enabling corruption.

Murkowski's opposition and a narrow path to 50 votes

Confirmation was far from certain in the days before the vote. Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, announced she planned to vote against Blanche's nomination to lead the Department of Justice, a move that reports described as putting his confirmation in jeopardy. According to some accounts, a small group of Republican senators had also threatened to block the nomination, though their specific concerns were not detailed.

Behind the resistance lay a question raised by lawmakers in both parties: whether Blanche, a former personal defense lawyer to President Trump, could lead the Justice Department independently of the White House. Despite the doubts, Blanche secured pivotal Senate support in the days before the vote and was widely expected to prevail. He did — but barely, winning 50 to 49 in a tally that fell largely along party lines.

The $1.8 billion fund, the Epstein files lawsuit, and the backlash

Blanche arrived at the confirmation vote carrying several controversies. He had overseen a $1.8 billion fund to compensate political allies of President Trump, a role that drew sustained criticism. He also faces a pending lawsuit in the D.C. District Court filed by legal analyst Katie Phang, who alleges he failed to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The suit seeks the release of administration files related to the Epstein investigation; its outcome remains unknown.

The confirmation itself prompted backlash, with critics describing Blanche as loyal to Trump, according to reports. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Republicans had handed Trump an excuse on a silver platter to continue what he called pervasive, breathtaking corruption. Separately, the dispute over the legality of Blanche's appointment as acting librarian of Congress, a role he has held since May 2025, remains unresolved.

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