President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche has been confirmed as US attorney general – the nation’s top law enforcement official.
Blanche won confirmation in a 50-49 vote, with Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski opposing him.
Senator Bill Cassidy was the deciding vote after announcing he believed Blanche was the best option the president would put forward. Washington had been anxiously waiting for Cassidy’s decision, due to years of acrimony between Trump and the senator.
The vote brings to an end a lengthy standoff between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration over Blanche, who has served as acting attorney general since April.
All Democrats voted against his nomination to lead the Justice Department.
Some Republican senators had raised concerns about his handling of the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents and his role in establishing Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.
The fund was planned to provide compensation to individuals who alleged government persecution but critics including Murkowski feared it would go to individuals who were prosecuted for participating in the January 6 attack on Congress.
Blanche eventually pledged to walk back the fund after blowback from Republican senators during his confirmation hearings.
It remains unclear whether the commitment is legally binding or whether Trump could later persuade Blanche, his former personal attorney, to revive a similar scheme under another name.
These issues meant Collins and Murkowski held off on backing Blanche, with the latter citing her lack of confidence in Blanche to “check the worst impulses of this administration”.
Murkowski announced on Friday she would oppose Blanche, citing concerns over the “politicisation” of the justice department.
