The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general early Saturday in a narrow 50-49 vote, elevating President Trump’s former personal lawyer to lead the Justice Department after weeks of resistance from a handful of Republicans. The vote took place at 4:31 a.m. as senators rushed to complete business before departing for a five-week recess.
Blanche’s path to confirmation was far from certain. Two Republican senators—Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska—joined all 49 Democrats in opposing his nomination, leaving the outcome dependent on a single GOP vote. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana provided that crucial support, announcing his backing just hours before the vote and clearing the way for Blanche’s confirmation.
The confirmation capped a contentious process that exposed deep GOP divisions over Blanche’s record and his closeness to Trump. Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney and represented him in three criminal cases brought in 2023, faced skepticism from Republicans concerned about his loyalty to the president and his role in Justice Department decisions.
The most significant obstacle was a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” created as part of a settlement resolving Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. GOP senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina threatened to block Blanche’s confirmation unless he formally rescinded the fund in writing, fearing it could be used to settle claims from Trump’s political opponents. Blanche had initially given only verbal assurances that the fund was dead, but that proved insufficient for the holdouts.
On August 3, Blanche formally rescinded the anti-weaponization fund through written orders posted on social media, narrowing the terms of the IRS settlement and addressing the GOP senators’ concerns. With that concession secured, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced his nomination on August 4 by a 12-10 party-line vote, setting the stage for the full chamber vote two days later.
Blanche becomes the second confirmed attorney general since Trump returned to the White House. His confirmation underscores the razor-thin Republican Senate majority and the power wielded by a small group of moderates willing to break ranks on presidential nominees. The overnight vote—held just hours before the Senate left town—reflected the urgency lawmakers felt to resolve the confirmation before the recess deadline.
Sources
- Reuters — confirmed Blanche’s 50-49 vote, the two Republican dissenters, and Cassidy’s crucial support
- Washington Post — reported the vote timing at 4:31 a.m. and the five-week recess context
- NBC News — detailed Blanche’s background as Trump’s personal attorney and the anti-weaponization fund dispute
- PBS NewsHour — documented the formal rescission of the $1.8 billion fund and its role in GOP holdouts’ support
- NPR — covered the Senate Judiciary Committee’s 12-10 party-line vote on August 4
- Senate.gov — official roll call vote record confirming the 50-49 final tally on August 8, 2026
