In a party-line vote early Saturday morning, the U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as Attorney General, despite unified opposition from Democrats who accused him of prioritizing President Trump's interests over the rule of law. The final tally saw all Democrats voting no, with only two Republicans—Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine—joining them. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was absent due to a recent fall.
Democrats pointed to Blanche's tenure as deputy and acting attorney general, highlighting his oversight of a now-defunct $1.8 billion fund intended to counter "weaponization" of government, the controversial release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, and his stance against abortion. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) framed the confirmation as a green light for "pervasive, breathtaking corruption," stating, "If you want to wipe out corruption, you can't have the president's personal attorney as the Attorney General."
Schumer's remarks echoed a broader Democratic critique that Blanche's loyalty lies with Trump, not the American public. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) wrote, "Todd Blanche has and always will be Trump's personal lawyer—not the American people's lawyer." Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) added that Blanche's "loyalties lie not with the law or the American people, but with protecting Trump's allies and enabling unprecedented corruption at DOJ."
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) specifically condemned Blanche's handling of the Epstein files, calling it a "complete and total mishandling," and also cited his abortion stance and history as Trump's attorney. Survivors of Epstein's crimes had urged senators to vote no, citing privacy violations during the file release. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) echoed those concerns, saying the DOJ under Blanche would continue to put Trump's interests ahead of victims' justice.
House Democrats, though without a vote, also voiced opposition. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) accused Republicans of confirming "Donald Trump's personal lawyer" under the cover of darkness. House Oversight Committee Democrats called for Blanche to testify under oath about the Epstein file rollout, alleging a cover-up and the doxxing of survivors.
The confirmation comes as the Senate prepares for a five-week recess, having also confirmed 74 other Trump nominees in a single vote. Blanche's tenure is likely to face continued legal and political scrutiny, as seen in recent challenges to Trump's agenda. The vote also highlighted the narrow GOP majority, with Murkowski and Collins breaking ranks, though their opposition was insufficient to block the nomination.
Collins, facing a tough reelection fight, cited the DOJ's "increasingly political" environment under Blanche as her reason for voting no. "Mr. Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the Department's independence," she stated.
Democrats have vowed to hold Blanche accountable, with Schumer warning that "every senator who voted to confirm him has now branded themselves as an enabler, too." The battle over the Justice Department's direction is far from over, as oversight efforts and legal challenges are expected to continue.
