Blanche confirmed as attorney general
By: Aysha Bagchi
Zachary Schermele
and Francesca Chambers
USA Today
WASHINGTON - After weeks of Republican infighting, the Senate finally squeezed through a vote to confirm Todd Blanche as the nation's next attorney general.
.....
The largely party-line vote early in the morning of August 8 [2026] included just two Republican defections: Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins, of Maine. Senators Bill Cassidy, of Louisiana; John Conyn, of Texas; and Thom Tillis, of North Carolina - all whom recently expressed serious reservations about Blanche, as will as the politicization of the Justice department more generally - ultimately three w their support behind President Donald Trump's former personal attorney.
..... The confirmation appeared off a political fright that consumed Capitol Hill for weeks, proving a new test for Trump's sway within the Senate GOP against a shared wariness with the current direction of he nation's chief law enforcement agency.
..... On August 7, [2026] the White House insisted it was confident that Blanche, who was leading president la delegation to Colombia, would be confirmed . Officials said they planned to have Trump swear him in as soon as possible.
..... After days of uncertainty about his position, Cassidy announced the morning of August 7 [2026] that he'd vote for Blanche, just hours after Murkowski announced on social media that she wouldn't. Cassidy said from the Senate floor that while Blanche wasn't a perfect choice to run the Justice Department, he worried that Trump would put forward someone less preferable if his nomination tanked.
..... White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said in a statement after Cassidy's announcement that Blanche, who took over as acting attorney general after Trump fired Pam Bondi, had "played a critical role at the Department of Justice" in advocating for law and order and policies that keep Americans safe.
..... August 7 [2026] began with Blanche's confirmation in serious jeopardy, Murkowski said the Trump administration had "accelerated" politicization AA the DOJ, preventing her form supporting him. She also took issue worth Blanche's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and what she described as "sweeping immunity portentous" he gave Trump in a controversial settlement.
.....
Her announcement followed Collins' statement August 4 [2026] that she couldn't support Blanche's bid. She voiced similar concerns over the immunity for Trump, DOJ politicization and Blanche's decision to approve a nearly $1.8 billion "anti-weapponizaiton" fund that eh has waled back.
..... Blanche, whom Trump nominated to become the permanent attorney general in June, [2026] faced a volatile nomination process. Two Republican Senators on the Judiciary Committee Cornyn and Tillis, briefly withheld support. The pair later agreed to back Blanche after he made concession when it came to the DOJ settlement conferring benefits to Trump and his allies.
..... The deal attempted to settle a lawsuit brought by Trump, his two oldest sons and the Trump Organization. The lawsuit alleged the IRS owed them 410 billion for failing to prevent a contractor from leaking their tax information.
..... The Trumps said they were dropping their lawsuit in exchange for government promises. The DOJ said it would cerate a $.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund that could have given taxpayer dollars to Trump supporters who committed crimes during the January 6 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. It also promised the Trump associates immunity from potential government claims against them, including for their pass tax returns.
..... The tax immunity deal could be a huge financial boon to the president. The New York Times reported in 2020 that Trump was in a decade-long audit battle with the IRS over a claimed $72.9 million tax refund. Losing that battle could cost him more than $100 million, according to the Times.
..... The deal had been widely criticized as self-dealing on Trump's part, given that he nominated and can fire DOJ leaders.