President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche has been confirmed as the new US attorney general, after Senate Republicans pushed his nomination through despite intense Democratic warnings that the Justice Department is being politicized. Blanche, who had already been serving in an acting capacity, was confirmed in a narrow 50-49 vote.
Blanche previously represented Trump in several criminal trials before joining the administration, a history that Democrats say makes him unfit to lead an institution meant to operate independently of the White House. Trump, who has increasingly sought direct control over agencies traditionally insulated from presidential influence, has called Blanche a “star.”
Democrats argued that Blanche’s appointment cements Trump’s effort to turn the Justice Department into a political tool. Senator Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said Blanche “continues to operate as the president’s personal lawyer, treating the Justice Department like a law firm serving one client the president.”
The confirmation was not guaranteed. Several Republican senators had expressed reservations, forcing the White House to work behind the scenes to secure every vote. One major sticking point was Trump’s push for a $1.8 billion fund for what he calls victims of “politicized prosecutions” a category likely to include individuals charged over the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, when rioters attempted to block certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.
Another controversial proposal tied to the negotiations involved granting Trump immunity from tax audits, an idea critics called unprecedented and dangerous.
Despite the objections, Blanche’s confirmation marks a significant moment in Trump’s reshaping of federal institutions and sets the stage for further clashes over the Justice Department’s independence.
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