Full Breakdown
Todd Blanche Sworn in as U.S. Attorney General Amid Confirmation Turmoil
8/11/2026, 4:26:54 AM
Core Event
Todd Blanche, former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, was sworn in as United States Attorney General on Monday in the Oval Office, with Trump present. The Senate confirmed him by a 50-49 vote after two Republican senators—Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)—opposed his nomination.
Background & Context
Blanche has served as acting attorney general since President Trump dismissed Pam Bondi in April 2024. He previously defended Trump in a New York hush-money trial and on two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith, both dropped after Trump’s 2024 reelection. His tenure has drawn criticism for actions described as politicizing the Justice Department, including an indictment of former FBI director James Comey and the handling of Jeffrey Epstein investigative files.
Data & Statistics
- Anti-weaponization fund: Euronews cites a $1.8 billion (€1.5 billion) fund; The Hill references a $1.776 billion “slush fund.” Both were intended to aid individuals the president labels victims of political prosecutions, including participants in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
- Department turnover: Justice Connection, a DOJ alumni group, reported roughly 20,000 career employees have left the department since Blanche assumed leadership, many through firings or forced departures.
- Senate vote: 50-49, with the decisive vote from Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana).
Official Statements & Responses
- Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana): Framed the vote as a choice between Blanche and an acting attorney general he deemed less effective, while condemning the “anti-weaponization slush fund” and the sweeping immunity granted to the president and his family.
- President Donald Trump: Said the president would keep Blanche in the acting role if the Senate failed to confirm, stating, “Todd will survive.”
Criticism & Opposition
- Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine): Warned that Blanche’s close ties to Trump could prevent independent judgment, noting increasing politicization.
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska): Said the near-$2 billion fund could reward Jan. 6 protesters and criticized the “sweeping immunity protections” for the president, his family, and their businesses, as well as the handling of Epstein files.
- Democratic leaders: Adam Schiff (D-California) argued Blanche could never shed his role as Trump’s personal attorney; Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) accused him of lying under oath about rescinding the fund order.
- Justice Connection: Executive director Stacey Young described Blanche’s tenure as having “shredded DOJ’s institutional norms,” leading to mass firings and demotions of staff working on Jan. 6 cases.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Fund amount: Euronews and The Hill provide different figures ($1.8 billion vs. $1.776 billion). Both agree the fund was halted pending confirmation, but the precise size remains disputed.
- Rescission timing: Sen. Hirono claims Blanche testified that he rescinded the immunity order, yet the public rescission document shows a signature dated the Sunday before the vote, creating uncertainty about the exact date of the reversal.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Congratulations to a great lawyer and an even better man!” — Karoline Leavitt, house press secretary
- “The politicization—even weaponization—of the Department did not start with this administration but has accelerated during it,” — Lisa Murkowski
What’s Next
The Senate will recess on August 8, with Congress not reconvening until September 14. During that interval, the Justice Department may face additional court challenges related to the anti-weaponization fund and the immunity order, while lawmakers continue to scrutinize Blanche’s handling of ongoing investigations.
