Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general in 50-49 vote
What's new: Two Republicans opposed him, and he secured Bill Cassidy's backing after pledging to curb a Trump-linked $1.8 billion fund.
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general early Saturday by a 50-49 vote, giving President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer permanent control of the Justice Department after weeks of resistance from both Democrats and some Republicans. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined all Democrats in voting no, leaving Bill Cassidy of Louisiana as the decisive vote. Blanche had served as acting attorney general since April. His path cleared after he agreed in writing to narrow tax-audit protections tied to Trump and his family and to scrap a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund linked to Trump allies, including Jan. 6 rioters.