Todd Blanche, a former federal prosecutor, was confirmed as the Attorney General of the United States on Saturday. Blanche, 52, will now serve as the nation’s top law enforcement officer under the leadership of President Trump, his former client.

Background and Confirmation

Blanche was confirmed by a vote of 50 to 49, with GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voting with Democrats against the nomination. He has been instrumental in reshaping the Justice Department in President Trump’s image and has been leading the day-to-day operations of the department for several months.

As Attorney General, Blanche is expected to bring cases that highlight what President Trump claims were instances of Justice Department ‘weaponization’ against him, his allies, and supporters. He will also push forward other administration priorities, such as hardline immigration cases and a crackdown on fraud involving government programs.

Previous Work and Experience

Blanche worked for years as a federal prosecutor before entering private practice about a decade ago. He took on President Trump as a client in 2023 and helped him navigate several federal indictments. Blanche’s legal tactics helped delay President Trump’s sentencing until after the election, effectively ensuring he would not serve prison time.

Blanche’s confirmation was not without controversy, with some senators expressing concerns about his role in shaping the Justice Department and his commitment to checking the administration’s impulses.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.