The United States Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general on Saturday in a 50-49 vote. Blanche, who previously served as President Donald Trump’s criminal defense attorney, now holds the permanent post at the Justice Department.
Blanche had acted as attorney general since April after President Trump removed Pam Bondi from the role. He earlier served as deputy attorney general following his March 2025 confirmation.
All Democrats opposed the nomination. Republican senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined them in voting no. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana provided the decisive support.
Cassidy spoke on the Senate floor before the vote. “The choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche,” he said. “It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting attorney general, who may not run the department effectively under President Trump.”
Murkowski issued a statement after the vote. “The country needs an attorney general who will check the worst impulses of this administration,” she said.
Blanche faced questions during his confirmation process about a Justice Department settlement involving the Internal Revenue Service and a proposed anti-weaponization fund.
Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina sought written assurances before advancing the nomination from committee.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa supported the confirmation. “Mr. Blanche is nominated to one of the most important offices in our country, and he has shown that he’s up to that task,” Grassley said.
“His impressive background and the presentation at our hearing in the Judiciary Committee are proof that he’s led the Justice Department with distinction and is well suited to continue doing that,” he concluded.
Blanche posted on social media after the vote. He stated that he was “deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me” and expressed gratitude to senators for working late to confirm him.
The confirmation concluded a multi-month process that began with President Trump’s nomination of Blanche in June.
