Senate confirms Blanche as attorney general in narrow overnight vote

The Senate voted 50-49 early Saturday to confirm Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, as attorney general. Blanche had already been leading the Justice Department in an acting capacity and becomes the second confirmed attorney general since Trump returned to office.

Two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joined every Democrat in voting against the nomination. The confirmation fight centered on concerns about installing a close Trump ally atop a department that has historically maintained independence from the White House.

The nomination was nearly derailed by a settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. Under pressure from Republican senators, Blanche promised in writing to abandon a proposed $1.8 billion fund to compensate Trump allies, including Jan. 6 defendants, and to scale back a provision shielding Trump and his family from IRS tax audits. Sen. Bill Cassidy's support, secured Friday, proved decisive.

Blanche, a former federal prosecutor who defended Trump in his hush money trial and two federal criminal cases, entered the department last year as deputy attorney general under Pam Bondi before Trump fired Bondi in April and elevated Blanche to acting attorney general.

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