Senate Narrowly Confirms Todd Blanche as Attorney General, 50-49

The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as US Attorney General in a mostly party-line 50-49 vote early Saturday, August 8, 2026, capping a difficult confirmation fight. Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joined all Democrats in voting no. Blanche, Trump's former personal criminal defense attorney, had been serving as acting attorney general since April 2026 after Trump forced out Pam Bondi. His confirmation fills a Cabinet post that had been in limbo for months amid Senate scrutiny of his ties to Trump's personal legal team.