Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general in 50-49 vote
What's new: Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins broke with Republicans, and Bill Cassidy cast the decisive vote after days of uncertainty.
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general early Saturday by a 50-49 vote, ending a standoff over President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and leaving him in charge of the Justice Department after serving in the role on an acting basis since April. All Democrats voted no, while Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine joined them in opposition. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana backed Blanche and supplied the winning margin. Murkowski said she was concerned about politicization of the department, while some Republicans had also questioned Blanche’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents and his connection to a proposed $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund that he later agreed to abandon.