Former personal attorney to former President Donald Trump has assumed the nation’s highest law enforcement role following Senate approval.
The Senate confirmed Blanche along a narrow 50-49 margin, with Republican senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski casting votes against his nomination.
Senator Bill Cassidy’s decisive vote—marking a pivotal reversal following years of friction between him and the former president—cleared the path for confirmation after a protracted period of uncertainty.
The confirmation concludes a tense negotiation between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration, resolving months of deliberation over Blanche’s suitability for the Justice Department leadership role.
Democratic lawmakers unanimously opposed Blanche’s nomination, citing concerns over his approach to the Justice Department’s independence and oversight functions.
Key Republican senators expressed reservations about Blanche’s stewardship of politically sensitive matters, including the public disclosure of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigations and his involvement in constructing a controversial compensation fund.
The proposed “anti-weaponization” fund, valued at $1.8 billion, was intended to reimburse individuals claiming persecution by government actions; however, Murkowski and others argued it could serve those convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack.
Following intense scrutiny during his confirmation hearings, Blanche publicly committed to dismantling the fund, though the legal enforceability of this pledge remains unclear and potential for future reimplementation under an alternate framework exists.
Collins and Murkowski withheld their support amid fears about potential conflicts of interest and Blanche’s ability to impartially uphold justice amid evolving political pressures.
On Friday, Murkowski formally announced her opposition, warning that Blanche’s leadership risked compromising the Justice Department’s credibility and politicizing its core mission.
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