politics
Senate Confirms Todd Blanche, Trump's Former Defense Lawyer, as Attorney General
Updated on: August 8, 2026 / 12:57 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Todd Blanche, President Trump's former defense lawyer, was confirmed as attorney general by the Senate.
- The confirmation vote was 50-49, with two Republicans opposing his nomination.
- Concerns over a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund and a broad immunity deal for Trump complicated Blanche's path.
- Compromises were made, including rescinding the fund's directive and clarifying the scope of the immunity deal, to gain support from key Republican senators.
- Blanche previously served as deputy attorney general in the second Trump administration and represented Trump in various legal cases.