Two Republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), voted with all Democrats against his confirmation.
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general early Saturday in a mostly party-line vote, capping off weeks of uncertainty and despite bipartisan concerns about his ability to run a Justice Department independent of President Donald Trump’s impulses.
The Senate voted to confirm Todd Blanche as the next attorney general early Saturday, capping a tumultuous path to office for President Trump's former personal attorney.The big picture: Blanche's appointment is a win for the Trump administration, especially after a journey that saw some Republicans hold out at multiple stages of the process.At one point Trump threatened to keep him as acting attorney general for months, after two GOP senators withheld their votes to advance him from the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) both eventually supported Blanche's advancement after Blanche confirmed that a controversial $1.776 billion fund to pay out perceived victims of political weaponization was dead.Driving the news: The pre-dawn vote was split 50-49, mostly along party lines. Every Democratic member present voted against the Trump nominee, joined by GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine). Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was not present amid a lengthy health-related absence.Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) was broadly seen as Democrats' best shot at blocking Blanche's nomination, but he announced Friday that he'd vote in favor of the president's former personal attorney.Blanche has been serving in the role in an acting capacity since this spring.State of play: Blanche will now formally take over the post held by Pam Bondi before she was pushed out. With Blanche as acting attorney general, the DOJ has continued its unconventionally close alignment with the White House, renewing attempts to prosecute individuals in line with the president's wishes.Friction point: While Blanche won over Republican defectors on the controversial fund, he's continued to face sharp criticism from survivors of Jeffrey Epstein — stemming from another controversy that threatened to derail his nomination.Tillis had given Blanche another mandate to earn his vote: meeting with Epstein victims. Blanche did so, but multiple survivors publicly panned the meeting as demoralizing and unproductive.The bottom line: Not much changes with "acting" dropped from Blanche's title. But his confirmation represents the official start of an aggressive new era for the DOJ.Go deeper: Blanche poised for confirmation vote after he kills Trump's fund
He’s overseen criminal cases against Trump’s political enemies and cut a sham “settlement” saving the president millions. Republicans confirmed him anyway.
The Senate early Saturday morning confirmed Todd Blanche as the next attorney general, with the nominee narrowly securing sufficient GOP backing after making a number of promises about how he would handle his tenure as the country’s top law enforcement officer. The vote was 50-49. “I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence President…
The Senate confirmed Blanche by a 50-49 vote early Saturday morning, elevating President Trump's former personal lawyer to head the Justice Department.
The Senate early Saturday morning confirmed Todd Blanche as the next attorney general, with the nominee narrowly securing sufficient GOP backing after making a number of promises about how he would handle his tenure as the country’s top law enforcement officer. The vote was 50-49. "I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence President [...]
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was narrowly confirmed by the Senate on Saturday to officially serve in the role, clearing a vote that divided the Republican Party. The Senate voted 50 to 49, with two Republicans — Sen. Susan Collins (ME) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (AK) — siding with Democrats to oppose to Blanche’s nomination. ...
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as President Donald Trump’s attorney general in the early morning hours Saturday, one of its final votes before leaving for the August recess. The 50-49 vote fell largely along party lines, with two Republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME), joining Democrats in opposing Blanche’s nomination. The outcome […]
