ALBAWABA - Former Donald Trump attorney Todd Blanche has been officially sworn in as the new U.S. after a hard-fought Senate vote as attorney general, one of the most powerful jobs in the federal government.
The Republican-controlled Senate approved Blanche's nomination 50-49, solidifying the pick of one of President Donald Trump's closest legal friends to lead the Justice Department. Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April, when Pam Bondi was fired.
His confirmation came after weeks of intense discussion over whether a lawyer who has represented Trump in several criminal matters could lead the country’s leading law enforcement agency in an impartial manner.
Democrats and some Republicans resisted the nomination, largely over a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for people who said they were unfairly targeted by the justice system, including some with ties to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and a controversial provision that would have limited IRS scrutiny of Trump and his family.
To get enough Republican support, Blanche publicly vowed to forgo both measures, winning the endorsement of critical senators and letting his nomination to move forward.
Democrats strongly condemned the selection, saying Blanche's close ties with Trump threatens the independence of the Justice Department. “That’s a serious error,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, adding that the country needs an attorney general who would enforce the law free of political influence.
Blanche, a former federal prosecutor in New York, became a key figure as one of Trump’s top defense attorneys in several high-profile criminal cases. He has overseen key investigations since joining the Justice Department and supported the administration’s wider efforts to restructure the department.
His approval is likely to bolster Trump’s hold on the Justice Department as the administration moves forward with probes into political opponents and substantial institutional transformation.
