Washington (HRNW)- The US Senate has narrowly approved President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche as the new Attorney General of the United States, with the nomination passing by a single vote.
According to the World News Agency, 50 senators voted in favor of confirming the 52-year-old Blanche, while 49 voted against him. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, joined Democrats in opposing his confirmation.
Blanche’s nomination faced opposition from some Republican senators, who raised concerns about the potential political use of the Justice Department, the proposed anti-“weaponization” initiative, and a tax-related agreement involving President Trump.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, despite expressing reservations, ultimately voted in favor of Blanche’s confirmation, helping secure the required majority.
Senator Lisa Murkowski opposed the nomination, saying the country needs an attorney general capable of resisting what she described as the “worst tendencies” of the administration and expressing doubts that Blanche would fulfill that role.
Blanche’s appointment is notable because he previously served as President Trump’s personal attorney and was a key member of his legal defense team in several criminal cases.
Blanche joined Trump’s legal team in 2023, when the former president was facing multiple criminal proceedings. He had previously worked as a partner at a prominent New York law firm before leaving private practice to represent Trump.
He played an important role in Trump’s major legal proceedings, including the New York hush-money case. Although Trump was convicted, Blanche’s legal strategy helped delay sentencing until after the presidential election.
Blanche and Trump’s legal team also achieved significant victories in federal cases. The US Supreme Court expanded the scope of presidential immunity in the election-interference case against Trump, while a federal case involving classified documents was dismissed.
After Trump returned to the presidency for a second term, Blanche assumed a senior role at the Department of Justice as Deputy Attorney General. His influence over the department’s day-to-day operations gradually increased, and according to US media reports, he chaired several meetings formally overseen by the Attorney General.
Blanche later became Acting Attorney General and has now been permanently confirmed by the Senate.
During his tenure as Acting Attorney General, the Justice Department pursued several initiatives aligned with the Trump administration’s priorities, including cases involving prominent political figures, efforts to obtain information about journalists’ sources, and investigations into alleged fraud involving government programs.
The Trump administration also established an initiative aimed at combating alleged political “weaponization” within the Justice Department. However, the proposal faced strong opposition in the Senate and was ultimately abandoned.
Prominent Role in Epstein Files Controversy
Blanche also became a prominent figure in the controversy surrounding documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. After former Attorney General Pam Bondi faced mounting media scrutiny over the Epstein case, Blanche assumed a more prominent role in managing the administration’s response.
His involvement increased as questions emerged over the transparency of the Trump administration and the Justice Department regarding the release and handling of Epstein-related documents.
Blanche’s confirmation has renewed debate over the independence of the Justice Department, with critics raising concerns that appointing a former personal lawyer of the president to lead the nation’s top federal law enforcement agency could create conflicts of interest and increase political influence.
Supporters of Blanche, however, argue that he is an experienced attorney and former federal prosecutor who possesses the legal expertise and administrative ability required to lead the Justice Department.
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