# Todd Blanche confirmed as US Attorney General in narrow 50-49 vote 2026-08-08T23:07:20+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as Attorney General in a 50-49 vote early Saturday, putting President Donald Trump's former personal attorney in charge of the Justice Department. All Democrats and two Republicans, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, opposed the nomination over fears that the department would lose independence from the White House. Blanche had been serving in an acting capacity since Pam Bondi's dismissal in April. His confirmation was held up by Republican concerns about a proposed $1.8 billion 'Anti-Weaponisation Fund' in a legal settlement that would compensate people claiming government mistreatment, including Jan 6 defendants. Blanche pledged to scrap the fund and restrict tax audit immunity for Trump. On Monday, Trump said the fund's future is now up to Blanche. ## Coverage - english.mathrubhumi.com - deccanherald.com Tags: Justice Department, partisan divide, Senate confirmation, Todd Blanche, Trump administration, US attorney general Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/trump-ex-lawyer-todd-blanche-confirmed-us-attorney-general-in-50-49-vote/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/trump-ex-lawyer-todd-blanche-confirmed-us-attorney-general-in-50-49-vote/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.