Now Reading: Todd Blanche confirmed as US attorney general by narrow Senate vote
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Todd Blanche confirmed as US attorney general by narrow Senate vote
Todd Blanche confirmed as US attorney general by narrow Senate vote
The US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general by a 50-49 vote on Tuesday. Two Republicans, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, joined all Democrats in opposing him. Blanche was already serving…
The Story in Brief
The US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general by a 50-49 vote on Tuesday. Two Republicans, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, joined all Democrats in opposing him. Blanche was already serving as acting attorney general.
Senators from both parties raised concerns about his handling of the release of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. They also questioned a May 19 Justice Department directive that created a $1.776 billion fund and provided Donald Trump, his family, and his businesses immunity from IRS audits. Blanche told the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 15 that the fund was 'dead', but Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis demanded written confirmation before the vote. Financial disclosures show Blanche's net worth at an estimated $3 million, including a law firm valued between $1 million and $5 million.
The Indian Opinion
The Senate's narrow confirmation and the questions around the $1.776 billion 'anti-weaponisation' fund show how the Justice Department is being dragged into partisan fights. Some narratives paint Blanche as either a Trump loyalist or an apolitical prosecutor. The real test is whether he can resist pressure to use the department to settle political scores. What will he do if the President asks him to drop a case? That answer will define his legacy more than his net worth or family background.
Sources (2): hindustantimes.com, timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
