After weeks of battle, Blanche finally makes it to attorney general as one vote proved lifeline

WASHINGTON, DC: After weeks of battle to convince skeptical GOP holdouts and being turned down time and again, President Donald Trump’s former attorney and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has been confirmed to lead the Department of Justice.

The development marks a significant triumph for Blanche, as soon after outgoing Senators John Cornyn (Texas) and Thom Tillis (North Carolina) agreed to support Trump’s pick, Sen Lisa Murkowski and Sen Susan Collins refused to back Blanche’s nomination.

Senate approves Blanche’s AG nomination by 50-49

The Senate narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche’s nomination for Attorney General early on Saturday, August 8, as Trump’s frequent critic, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, came to Blanche’s rescue after Sen Murkowski and Sen Collins’s refusal left his nomination hanging in the balance.

This decision marks a milestone for Blanche also because it came despite bipartisan concern about Blanche’s ability to “check the worst impulses of this administration.”

Blanche, who was formerly Trump’s personal attorney, was confirmed by a vote of 50-49, with only two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voting against him along with all Democrats.

The vote was held after 4 am on Saturday, as a late-night session ran over into the early hours ahead of a planned Senate recess.

“I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me to lead the Department of Justice as our great nation’s 88th Attorney General,” Blanche said in a post on X.

“I am grateful to the Senate for staying late to complete this process.”

Anti-weaponization fund kept Blanche’s confirmation hanging

Todd Blanche was appointed as the acting Attorney General to lead the DOJ after former DOJ Secretary Pam Bondi was shown the door.

His nomination was left undecided over the anti-weaponization fund, which was created to compensate those who were allegedly wrongly targeted by the former Biden administration and came into existence as a lawsuit settlement between Trump and the IRS.

Two outgoing Senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, refused to support Blanche to serve as AG full-time, expressing concern over the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund and demanding that it be officially dropped and given in writing.

Bill Cassidy came to Blanche’s rescue

Sen Bill Cassidy, R-La, announced Friday, Aug 7, that he will vote for President Donald Trump’s pick, Todd Blanche, for attorney general, assuring his confirmation.

“All considered, I will vote for Mr Blanche. I’ll be criticized for this vote. What’s new?” Cassidy said in a floor speech after outlining concerns he said he weighed.

While he was “concerned about episodes of apparent lawfare,” Cassidy said, “even critics admit that Mr Blanche knows the law and is a hands-on administrator.”