The U.S. Senate voted early Saturday morning to confirm Todd Blanche, President Trump’s choice to be the next U.S. attorney general.
Blanche has been acting attorney general for months following the president’s decision to replace Pam Bondi.
Blanche, who was once Trump’s personal attorney, was approved after a contentious battle by a one-vote margin, 50-49, after two Republicans, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, joined all Democrats in rejecting Blanche’s nomination.
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) changed his vote to yes, and provided the margin of victory. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) was unavailable to vote.
Blanche posted a message on social media, saying he was “deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me.” He added that he was thankful to the Senate for working late on a weekend to confirm him.
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After the confirmation, Trump fired off three social media posts blasting Murkowski for voting against Blanche, pointing out that she declined to support Blanche while voting to approve Merrick Garland, who served under President Biden.
Murkowski angered the president on Friday when she announced her intention to vote against Blanche, saying, “The country needs an attorney general who will check the worst impulses of this administration,” and she professed doubt that Blanche would do that. The president called her “owned.”
After changing his vote, Senator Cassidy noted that Senate confirmation would afford Blanche “greater leverage to push for things that should be pushed for.”
