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By Steve Mollman
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Todd Blanche's narrow confirmation as attorney general triggered an immediate wave of criticism from Democratic lawmakers and watchdog groups, with opponents warning that the confirmation could undermine the Justice Department's independence from the White House.
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche in a razor-thin 50-49 vote early Saturday morning after Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana provided the decisive support needed for confirmation. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska opposed—the only GOP senators to do so—leaving virtually no margin for additional defections.
The fight over Blanche's nomination became one of the most contentious confirmation battles of Trump's second term because it touched on broader questions about the Justice Department's independence from the White House. Supporters viewed Blanche as a trusted former prosecutor capable of carrying out the administration's agenda, while opponents argued his close relationship with Trump made him unsuited to serve as the nation's top law-enforcement official.
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Blanche had been serving as acting attorney general since Pam Bondi was removed from the role in April after Trump expressed frustration with the department's handling of records related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender whose death in jail in 2019 has remained the subject of intense public scrutiny. Blanche's tenure quickly became a flashpoint on Capitol Hill, with critics questioning whether he could operate independently from the White House after taking a series of actions they argued blurred the line between the Justice Department and the president's political interests.
In a statement shared with Newsweek, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Blanche's confirmation "a huge win for President Trump and our country" and said he would be a "phenomenal Attorney General of the United States." Leavitt added that Americans would be "well served by his unwavering commitment to law and order."
How Todd Blanche secured Senate confirmation
The nomination remained in jeopardy until the final days of the confirmation process. Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced they would oppose him, forcing the Trump administration to secure support from Cassidy, who has clashed with Trump on multiple occasions during his second term.
Cassidy had expressed concerns about Blanche's role in a contentious IRS settlement deal and a proposed $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund that critics argued could benefit Trump allies. On CBS's Face the Nation Sunday, Cassidy said protections for Trump and his family under the IRS settlement were "totally wrong" and had "almost weighed" enough for him to oppose the nomination. After discussions with Blanche and consultation with former Attorney General William Barr, Cassidy ultimately decided to back the nomination.
Why Critics Say Todd Blanche Threatens DOJ Independence
Opposition to Blanche's confirmation quickly spread beyond Capitol Hill, drawing criticism from Democratic lawmakers and government watchdog groups.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Republicans of giving President Donald Trump "an excuse on a silver platter" to continue what he called "pervasive, breathtaking corruption" in the federal government.
In a statement after the vote, Schumer argued Republicans had compromised the Justice Department's independence by elevating one of Trump's former defense lawyers to the nation's top law-enforcement post.
"If you want to wipe out corruption, you can't have the president's personal attorney as the Attorney General," Schumer said. "Todd Blanche has no intention of stopping Trump's corruption. He advanced his career enabling it."
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized the overnight vote, arguing that Republicans pushed the nomination through while much of the country was asleep.
"Under the cover of darkness, Republicans confirmed Donald Trump's personal lawyer to serve as Attorney General," Pelosi wrote on X. "The American people deserve a Justice Department that defends the rule of law, not one weaponized to protect the President, reward his allies & shield his corruption."
New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Luján tied his opposition to the Justice Department's handling of matters related to Epstein.
"The survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's horrific crimes deserve transparency and accountability, not continued efforts to withhold information or shield those in positions of power," Luján wrote on X. "Under Todd Blanche's leadership, the DOJ will continue putting President Trump's personal and political interests ahead of justice and accountability for victims. I voted NO."
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Government Watchdog Raises Concerns About DOJ Independence
One of the most forceful reactions came from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). Donald K. Sherman, president and CEO of the watchdog group, accused Senate Republicans of failing to act as a constitutional check on executive power.
"With this vote, a majority of the Senate abdicated its constitutional responsibility to serve as a check on the executive, and instead helped President Trump craft a Justice Department that will serve him, not the American people," Sherman said in a statement shared with Newsweek.
He added that it was "disgusting and disheartening" that Senate Republicans were "not only going along with Trump's authoritarian wishes, but using their power to grant them, over and over again."
CREW was among several progressive and democracy-focused organizations that opposed Blanche's nomination in the weeks leading up to Saturday's vote.
What Happens Next for Todd Blanche?
Blanche now takes permanent control of a Justice Department he has already led on an acting basis since April. He does so as the department faces pressure on several fronts, including politically sensitive investigations, scrutiny from federal courts and concerns about morale among career staff. His supporters argue the former federal prosecutor will continue pursuing the administration's priorities on crime, immigration and cartel enforcement.
Critics, however, point to his handling of the Epstein files, IRS settlement negotiations and investigations involving Trump's political opponents as evidence that the department could become increasingly intertwined with the White House. Whether Blanche governs more like a traditional attorney general or remains closely aligned with Trump's political priorities is likely to be a central point of scrutiny in the months ahead.
Why Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski Voted No
Collins and Murkowski ultimately opposed Blanche, joining every Democratic and independent senator in voting against him.
Murkowski said she was troubled by what she described as the increasing politicization, and even "weaponization," of the Justice Department, citing the Epstein files and immunity protections granted to Trump, his family and their businesses as part of an IRS settlement.
Collins similarly argued that the Justice Department had become "increasingly political" and that Blanche had further eroded the department's independence.
What Supporters Say About Todd Blanche
Blanche has rejected accusations that he would serve as a political operative for Trump.
Following the vote, he wrote on X that he was "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."
Supporters, including Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley, have argued that Blanche's experience as both a federal prosecutor and defense attorney makes him uniquely qualified to lead the department. Grassley called him "the right choice" to serve as attorney general.
Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia wrote that she was "proud to vote to confirm" Blanche.
"I am confident that he will uphold the rule of law and lead the [Justice Department] with the safety of the American people at the forefront," she added.
Contact Newsweek editor for this story: Anthony Murray.
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