Senate confirms Trump's ex-lawyer Todd Blanche as attorney general 50-49
Sen. Bill Cassidy's deciding vote advances Trump's former personal attorney to lead the Justice Department despite Republican concerns over a controversial settlement fund.
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Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 100 items across 6 sources · 18h ago. Quotes are verbatim.
The US Senate confirmed Todd Blanche, President Trump's former criminal defense attorney, as attorney general in a 50-49 vote early Saturday morning. Blanche had been acting in the role since April and faced a contentious confirmation fight centered on a $1.8 billion compensation fund for Trump allies, which he publicly promised to abandon. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy cast the deciding vote, with two Republicans (Collins and Murkowski) and all Democrats voting against him.
- Todd Blanche, Trump's former criminal defense attorney, was confirmed as attorney general 50-49 with Sen. Cassidy's deciding vote; only two Republicans (Collins, Murkowski) opposed.
- The confirmation fight centered on a controversial $1.8 billion compensation fund for Trump allies; Blanche promised in writing to abandon it and restrict IRS protections for Trump.
- Blanche had already been acting attorney general since April, reshaping the DOJ to align with Trump's priorities, including indicting political figures and investigating perceived weaponization against Trump.
- Critics across both parties expressed concern about the DOJ's independence and potential weaponization of law enforcement under Trump's former personal attorney, with some Democratic and Republican senators voting against confirmation.
How it unfolded
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Reaction Trump's former White House lawyer expresses alarm
Ty Cobb, Trump's former White House lawyer, warns that Blanche may attempt to discredit midterm election results as the new Attorney General.
“We're screwed”
Ty Cobb · Bluesky ↗ -
Reaction Social media reactions to confirmation
Democratic-leaning commenters on Bluesky express alarm about Blanche's role as Trump's former personal attorney now leading the Justice Department, with concerns about weaponization and loss of DOJ independence.
“My take on how Cassidy's legacy will now forever be marked as the deciding vote for lawlessness, the weaponization of the DOJ, and the death of any independence of that agency.”
katiephang · Bluesky ↗ -
Analysis Coverage describes settlement fund controversy as central issue
Media reports highlight that the $1.8 billion slush fund for Trump allies, including Capitol riot participants, was the primary sticking point in the confirmation fight. Blanche made written commitments to abandon the fund and restrict IRS protections for Trump.
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Event Senate confirms Blanche as attorney general 50-49
Early Saturday morning, the Senate voted 50-49 to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general. Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted against him alongside all Democrats. Blanche, who had been acting attorney general since April, permanently assumes the role.
“I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me.”
Todd Blanche · Press ↗ -
Event Cassidy announces support for Blanche
Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana announced his support for Blanche's nomination, effectively assuring confirmation by providing the deciding Republican vote needed.
“BREAKING: Sen. Bill Cassidy is a YES on Todd Blanche — all but assuring Trump's former personal attorney will become the next U.S. Attorney General.”
Kyle Griffin · Bluesky ↗ -
Event Senate Judiciary Committee advances Blanche nomination
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines to advance Blanche's nomination for a floor vote after he negotiated a deal with GOP Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis to cancel the $1.8 billion compensation fund.
What people are saying verbatim
“BREAKING: Sen. Bill Cassidy is a YES on Todd Blanche — all but assuring Trump's former personal attorney will become the next U.S. Attorney General.”
Kyle Griffin, Bluesky user / journalist · Bluesky ↗ · Aug 7, 10:51 AM
“My take on how Cassidy's legacy will now forever be marked as the deciding vote for lawlessness, the weaponization of the DOJ, and the death of any independence of that agency.”
katiephang, Social media commenter · Bluesky ↗ · Aug 7, 2:25 PM
“We're screwed, says Trump's former White House lawyer Ty Cobb, when asked if Trump's new Attorney General Todd Blanche will attempt to discredit midterm election results.”
mjfree, Bluesky user, quoting Ty Cobb · Bluesky ↗ · Aug 9, 8:45 AM
“I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me.”
Todd Blanche, Attorney General · AP News / The Hill ↗ · Aug 8, 4:34 AM
“This is not a referendum on President Trump. It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances.”
Bill Cassidy, US Senator (Louisiana) · AP News ↗ · Aug 8, 4:32 AM
“If there is ever a moment in history when we need an Attorney General above reproach, who is clearly dedicated to ending corruption, even at the highest level of our government, it's right now.”
Dick Durbin, US Senator (Illinois), top Judiciary Committee Democrat · AP News ↗ · Aug 8, 4:32 AM
“Todd Blanche is the same personal lawyer of Trumps that lost Trumps 34 felony indictment. Guilty 34-0. What could go wrong?”
my2bits4u, Bluesky commenter · Bluesky ↗ · Aug 6, 2:10 PM
Voices from the web unedited
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Blumenthal: Remember that Donald Trump, under the recent Supreme Court opinion, can’t be held criminally responsible while he’s in office for anything he does while he’s in office. But Todd Blanche could be.
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This Washington Post story seems to suggest that Todd Blanche cares about something other than doing Donald Trump’s bidding. There is ZERO evidence for that. “Blanche as AG faces pressure from Trump, skeptical courts, low staff morale”
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Conservatives deal primarily in black-white, binary forms of reasoning while ignoring the context and nuance of complex subjects. They are notorious for this. So it’s laughable to see one take an actual black-white binary decision and try to pretend i isn’t. The choice was: 1. vote to confirm a corrupt Trump loyalist who will act like the rapist…
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BREAKING: Sen. Bill Cassidy is voting YES on Todd Blanche’s nomination to be the AG. My take on how Cassidy’s legacy will now forever be marked as the deciding vote for lawlessness, the weaponization of the DOJ, and the death of any independence of that agency.
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Fu€k all of them that Sold Out Americans and voted for him. Just Say No! To any Republican running for office in the next election and the Next and Next and Next....
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BREAKING on MS NOW: Susan Collins says she's voting against Todd Blanche's nomination to be Attorney General.
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“If you're looking for a black or white decision here, you're not going to find it.” The answer lies somewhere between orange and green.
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“We’re screwed,” says Trump’s former White House lawyer Ty Cobb, when asked if Trump’s new Attorney General Todd Blanche will attempt to discredit midterm election results. Do you get it now?
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Too bad. A yes vote is a yes vote and green lights everything Blanche has done and is about to do. The Senate is broken
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BREAKING: Sen. Bill Cassidy is a YES on Todd Blanche — all but assuring Trump's former personal attorney will become the next U.S. Attorney General.