Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general

Key Points:

• The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general with a narrow 50-49 vote, making him head of the Justice Department and elevating the former personal lawyer of President Trump.
• Blanche's confirmation faced opposition from all Democrats and Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, with key support from Sen. Bill Cassidy proving decisive despite concerns about Blanche's judgment and the Justice Department's political actions.
• Blanche pledged to rescind the controversial $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund linked to a Trump-IRS settlement, providing written assurances to Senate Republicans, though legal experts remain skeptical about the durability of these commitments.
• Critics, including Democrats and legal experts, have questioned Blanche's impartiality and leadership, citing his close ties to Trump and controversial DOJ actions under his tenure, such as pursuing cases against Trump's perceived political enemies and handling of sensitive investigations.
• Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein criticized Blanche's response to their concerns, describing him as dismissive, which fueled opposition to his nomination from some senators and advocacy groups.