WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Republicans on Saturday narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as President Donald Trump’s attorney general, overcoming weeks of resistance over concerns about his independence and his handling of Justice Department matters.
Blanche was confirmed 50-49, with Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joining Democrats in opposing him. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cast the deciding vote after saying he believed Blanche was the best candidate Trump would put forward.
The vote ended a weeks-long standoff between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration. Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April, after previously serving as the Justice Department’s second-ranking official.
Republican senators had questioned Blanche’s handling of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and his role in establishing a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, as well as a related tax-immunity agreement involving Trump and his sons.
Blanche agreed in writing to narrow the tax-immunity agreement and end payments from the proposed fund, helping secure support from Republican senators who had expressed reservations about his nomination.
Murkowski said she lacked confidence that Blanche would adequately check what she described as the administration’s worst impulses. Cassidy, while criticizing Blanche’s role in the IRS settlement, said he ultimately trusted him to provide Trump with candid legal advice.
Blanche, a former federal prosecutor and former personal attorney to Trump, will now take permanent leadership of the Justice Department.
