Overnight vote ends weeks of uncertainty
The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a narrow overnight vote on Tuesday. The roll call ended weeks of uncertainty over a nomination that divided both parties. The vote came after a long night of debate that stretched past midnight.
Blanche is a former federal prosecutor who later defended President Trump in court. He replaces the previous attorney general and takes charge of the Justice Department at a time of low staff morale and crowded court dockets.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune pushed the chamber to act before the August recess. "We have a department to run and a country to protect," Thune said after the vote.
Democrats warn about independence
Democrats opposed the nomination almost unanimously. They said Blanche's close ties to the president raise questions about the department's independence. Several Republican senators also voiced doubts but voted to confirm.
"The attorney general must answer to the law, not to the White House," said one Democratic senator during the floor debate. Blanche pledged during his hearing to keep the department free from political pressure.
Critics point to ongoing investigations involving the president and his allies. They say Blanche will face early tests of his independence in the coming months. Several outside groups have already announced plans to track his decisions.
Challenges pile up for the new attorney general
Blanche inherits a department strained by resignations and hiring freezes. Court cases on voting rights, immigration, and corporate enforcement are pending. Staff morale has suffered after years of turnover at the top.
Legal experts say Blanche's first moves will be watched closely. He must decide which cases to pursue and which to drop, and he must fill senior posts that have sat empty.
The confirmation gives the administration a full cabinet at last, but it does little to settle the debate over the department's direction. Blanche is expected to be sworn in later this week. He will also manage thousands of prosecutors and federal agents across the country.