Todd Blanche is CONFIRMED as Trump's new attorney general in a big win for the president despite Republican 'no' votes

By BREANNE DEPPISCH, US SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 10:54, 8 August 2026 | Updated: 10:57, 8 August 2026 President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Justice, Todd Blanche, was confirmed as his next Attorney General by a razor-thin majority - capping weeks of negotiations that threatened to tank his confirmation.  He narrowly scored the job - reaching the necessary 50 votes - after two Republicans voted 'no' - Lisa Murkowski of Alaksa and Susan Collins of Maine. A third GOP defection would have cost Blanche the nomination with the ongoing absence of Mitch McConnell, who is recovering from a bad fall. It's a huge victory for Trump, who has indicated that he wants his DOJ to pursue political prosecutions against his foes and go on the offense to restore 'justice' for his allies and friends.   Blanche's eleventh-hour vote came in the final moments before the Senate breaks for August recess and leaves DC for the next several weeks. He faced an explosive confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he answered tough questions over DOJ's botched release of the Epstein files, his own personal loyalty to Trump, and concerns about the department carrying out politically motivated investigations. But the major sticking points proved for Republicans were Trump's sweeping tax audit settlement he struck with the IRS, as well as a controversial 'anti-weaponization fund' that would allocate $1.8 billion to victims of 'lawfare' by previous administrations. Texas Senator John Cornyn and North Carolina's Thom Tillis, the two most vocal holdouts, only got on board with Blanche after DOJ provided written assurances that the so-called 'slush fund' was dead.  Todd Blanche speaks during a press conference at the Justice Department. He's been working in an acting capacity since Bondi was fired Blanche advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week with a party-line vote.  But not all Republicans came around, however. Collins told reporters Tuesday that she would not vote to confirm Blanche, citing 'several actions' he took at the Justice Department that 'further eroded the department’s independence.'  Murkowski declared on Friday that she would vote 'no' due to Blanche's mishandling of the Epstein files and concerns over Trump's slush fund for allies. 'The country needs an Attorney General who will check the worst impulses of this administration. I hope Mr. Blanche is able to achieve that, if confirmed, but I simply do not have confidence that will be the case,' she stated. The ongoing absence of McConnell - who was just released from the hospital after over 50 days following a bad fall - meant that Republicans could only afford two defections.  The fate of Blanche was largely left in the hands of Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana - whom Trump actively campaigned against in his primary, endorsing Julia Letlow. But he indicated on Friday morning that he would cast a vote in support of Trump's pick.  Blanche's path to confirmation was markedly less smooth than his predecessor, Pam Bondi, who was fired in April due in part to her inability to indict Trump’s most outspoken political foes and over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.  Outgoing Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas stands after voting to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appears to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee