SAEDNEWS: Todd Blanche, Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and close ally, has been confirmed as U.S. attorney general by a 50–49 Senate vote, triggering fierce criticism from Democrats who accuse him of putting loyalty to Trump ahead of the Justice Department’s duty to the public.
According to SaedNews: Todd Blanche has moved from Donald Trump’s personal legal team to the top of the U.S. Justice Department after a narrowly divided Senate confirmed him as attorney general in a 50–49 vote.
The confirmation represents a significant political victory for Trump, placing a former personal lawyer and close associate of the president at the head of the nation’s Justice Department and federal law-enforcement apparatus.
But the vote also exposed an intense partisan divide over Blanche’s record, his relationship with Trump and the direction Democrats fear the Justice Department could take under his leadership.
Democratic senators unanimously opposed the nomination. Two Republicans—Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska—also voted against Blanche. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cast the decisive vote in favor of confirmation.
The result was one of the most closely divided votes surrounding Blanche’s nomination.
Democrats had already rejected Blanche during the early hours of Sunday before the final confirmation, and they sharply condemned his appointment afterward. Several described him as someone who would enable or facilitate what they characterized as Trump’s corruption.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer delivered one of the strongest attacks.
Schumer argued that putting Blanche in charge of the Justice Department would amount to giving a green light to what he described as widespread and striking corruption under Trump. He questioned why the president’s former lawyer should be placed in charge of the department responsible for enforcing federal law.
Schumer also claimed that Blanche had no intention of confronting Trump over corruption and would instead assist him. He said senators who supported Blanche could consider themselves partners in what he called Trump’s corruption.
Other Democratic senators focused on Blanche’s previous work and positions.
Senator Alex Padilla argued that Blanche would remain Trump’s lawyer rather than become a lawyer for the American people. Padilla said that was why he voted against the nomination.
Senator Chris Coons similarly questioned Blanche’s priorities, arguing that his loyalty was directed toward Trump rather than the law or the American public. Coons also accused him of protecting Trump’s allies and helping the president in what he described as unprecedented corruption at the Justice Department.
Senator Jackie Rosen raised another area of controversy, accusing Blanche of mismanagement in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein case and pointing to his previous role as Trump’s personal attorney.
Rosen argued that Americans need an attorney general whose loyalty is to the Constitution rather than to the president. She also said she would continue working to hold those responsible accountable.
Another Democratic senator from New Mexico warned that the Justice Department under Blanche would continue placing Trump’s personal and political interests ahead of justice and accountability for victims.
Blanche’s confirmation had already faced delays in the Senate. Before becoming attorney general, he had temporarily led the Justice Department, while his nomination remained unresolved for several weeks.
His record during the previous year as deputy attorney general and acting attorney general became a central focus of Democratic criticism.
Democrats also pointed to his views and efforts surrounding a proposed Justice Department fund known as the “weaponization” initiative. The fund was described as worth $1.8 billion, while there was also opposition among some Republicans to plans involving tax immunity for Trump, his sons and his companies.
Another issue raised by Democrats involved the handling of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who was found hanged in prison. Democratic senators cited what they described as incomplete disclosure of documents connected to the case as part of their argument against Blanche.
His position on abortion was also cited by Democrats as another reason for their opposition.
The controversy did not end with the Senate. Democratic members of the House of Representatives also criticized the confirmation.
A Democratic representative from California accused Republicans of confirming Trump’s former personal lawyer “under a cover of darkness.” The lawmaker argued that Americans want a Justice Department committed to enforcing the law rather than serving as a political weapon for the president or rewarding his friends and allies.
The Senate vote nevertheless secured Blanche’s appointment.
His path to the attorney general’s office now places the focus on how he will use the authority of one of the most powerful law-enforcement positions in the United States after previously serving as Trump’s personal lawyer.
For Democrats, that relationship is at the heart of the controversy. Their criticism has centered less on Blanche’s professional qualifications alone and more on whether his past loyalty to Trump could influence his conduct as the nation’s top federal law-enforcement official.
Republicans, meanwhile, provided enough support to overcome Democratic opposition and give Trump the confirmation he wanted.
The narrow margin makes the appointment especially politically charged. With Blanche now confirmed, attention will turn to the decisions made by the Justice Department under his leadership and whether the concerns raised by Democrats will translate into concrete political and legal battles.
For now, one fact is clear: Trump’s former personal lawyer has become the U.S. attorney general, following a Senate vote that sharply highlighted the broader struggle over presidential power, loyalty, accountability and the independence of federal law enforcement.
