President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, was confirmed as US attorney general on Saturday, after Senate Republicans overcame Democratic opposition and concerns over the politicisation of the Justice Department.
Blanche, who had already been serving as acting attorney general, represented Trump in several criminal cases before joining the administration. The Senate, narrowly controlled by Republicans, confirmed him by 50 votes to 49.
Trump, who has sought greater control over government institutions traditionally viewed as independent, has described Blanche as a “star.”
Democrats opposed Blanche’s nomination from the outset, accusing the president of turning the Justice Department into a political instrument.
“The attorney general is supposed to be the people’s lawyer,” Senator Dick Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said on Tuesday.
“Mr Blanche continues to operate as the president’s personal lawyer, treating the Justice Department like a law firm serving one client — the president.”
Blanche’s confirmation had appeared uncertain after several Republican senators raised concerns that threatened to derail the nomination. With the Senate divided along narrow party lines, the defection of even a small number of Republicans could have blocked his confirmation.
One major sticking point was a proposal to establish a $1.8 billion fund for people Trump describes as victims of politically motivated prosecutions. The fund was expected to benefit, among others, people prosecuted over the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, when Trump supporters sought to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
Another controversial proposal would have granted Trump immunity from certain tax audits.
‘Hush money’ case
Blanche ultimately eased Republican opposition by issuing a written order over the weekend scrapping the proposed political “anti-weaponisation fund.”
He also said an agreement granting audit immunity to Trump, his two eldest sons and the Trump Organization would apply only retroactively to previous tax years and not to future tax filings.
Blanche has served as acting attorney general since Trump fired Pam Bondi, another presidential ally, in April.
Since taking over, he has been closely associated with what Democrats describe as Trump’s campaign of political “retribution” against his opponents.
Blanche has also faced criticism from victims of Jeffrey Epstein over his handling of the release of investigative files concerning the convicted sex offender, who was once a close associate of Trump.
Before joining the Justice Department, Blanche represented Trump in his New York trial over alleged “hush money” payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
He was also part of Trump’s legal defence team in two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith. One accused Trump of unlawfully retaining classified documents after leaving the White House, while the other alleged that he conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Both cases were dropped after Trump won the 2024 presidential election.
AFP
