Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, has moved one step closer to becoming the next attorney general after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance his nomination. Blanche has been serving as acting attorney general since April and has been working to prioritize cases important to the president.

Controversies and Investigations

Blanche’s nomination has been met with controversy, particularly over his handling of the Epstein files and his role in an unprecedented settlement agreement between Trump and his own administration. He has also faced criticism for his pursuit of criminal actions against people and organizations the president has criticized.

Despite these controversies, Blanche has gained the support of key Republicans, including Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Their votes were crucial in advancing Blanche’s nomination, which now moves to the full Senate for a final vote.

Justice Department Investigations

Blanche’s confirmation is expected to pave the way for reenergized Justice Department investigations, including those related to the Trump-Russia investigation. The department has been relatively quiet on these cases during Blanche’s confirmation process, but sources say public activity is expected to return once he is confirmed.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.