US Senate confirms Trump lawyer Todd Blanche as attorney general

The Story in Brief

The US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general by a 50-49 vote, with two Republicans joining Democrats in opposing him. Blanche, Trump's former criminal defence lawyer, has been acting as attorney general since April. The confirmation battle centred on Republican concerns about a contentious settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, which included a Rs 14,700-crore compensation fund for Trump's allies and tax audit immunity for the president. Blanche gave written assurances to Republican senators that the fund was dead and the tax protections limited, winning the decisive vote of Senator Bill Cassidy.

Democrats argue Blanche sees himself as Trump's defender rather than an apolitical law enforcer. In his acting role, Blanche has already advanced investigations into Trump's perceived foes. The narrow vote reflects deep concerns about politicising the Justice Department, which historically operated independently of the White House.