Kathmandu— The United States Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as Attorney General in a razor-thin 50-49 vote early Saturday, granting President Donald Trump's former personal defense lawyer formal command over the Department of Justice. Blanche, who had been serving in an acting capacity since the removal of Pam Bondi in April, moves into the top role following a contentious confirmation process that highlighted deep divisions within the Senate regarding the independence of the nation's top law enforcement agency.

A Narrow Path To Confirmation

Blanche secured his confirmation by the absolute narrowest of margins, with Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska breaking ranks to vote against him. The confirmation followed intense negotiations in the Senate Judiciary Committee involving Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who raised concerns regarding the department's anti-weaponisation fund and a specific tax immunity arrangement between the President and the Internal Revenue Service.

To finalize the confirmation, Blanche signed a memo ending the controversial anti-weaponisation fund and issued a secondary memo clarifying the terms of the IRS agreement. Despite efforts to win over key lawmakers, including a two-day visit to Alaska to resolve state lawsuits and direct over $6 million in grants to the state, Blanche was unable to secure Senator Murkowski's support. "The country needs an Attorney General who will check the worst impulses of this administration," Murkowski said, adding that she lacked confidence that Blanche would do so.

Restructuring The Department

Since re-entering the White House, Blanche has played a central role in restructuring the Department of Justice to align with the President's priorities. His tenure as acting attorney general has been marked by pushing legal arguments to expand executive authority and presidential protections, alongside broad personnel changes involving veteran officials and experienced prosecutors.

During his time leading the agency, the department pursued indictments against prominent political figures, including former FBI Director James Comey, and issued subpoenas targeting the sources of journalists. Blanche is expected to continue this trajectory by pursuing cases that highlight what the President alleges were past instances of Justice Department "weaponisation" against him, his supporters, and his key allies.

From Defense Lawyer To Top Official

Blanche's rise to the head of the Justice Department follows a high-profile legal career spent defending Donald Trump. A former federal prosecutor who resigned his partnership at the New York law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in April 2023, Blanche served as Trump's primary attorney across three federal indictments. His legal maneuvers were credited with successfully deferring sentencing in the New York hush-money trial and securing a Supreme Court ruling that expanded presidential immunity in a federal election interference case.

His transition from a private attorney to a government official has drawn scrutiny from legal peers and former colleagues. Previously registered as a Democrat, Blanche's decision to represent Trump and his subsequent mirroring of the President's public rhetoric has been a subject of intense analysis within the legal community.

Blanche is expected to focus on core administration priorities, including hardline immigration enforcement and an expanded crackdown on fraud involving government programs.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.