In a closely contested vote, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, has been confirmed as the new United States Attorney General. The confirmation comes after a prolonged standoff between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration, with Blanche serving as Acting Attorney General since April. The final tally was 50-49, with two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, joining all Democrats in opposing his nomination. The decisive vote came from Senator Bill Cassidy, a move closely watched in Washington due to the historical tension between Cassidy and Trump. Following the confirmation, Blanche expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by President Trump. Concerns about Blanche's handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents and his role in establishing Trump's $1.8 billion "anti-weaponisation" fund had raised eyebrows among some Republican senators. Critics, including Murkowski, feared the fund would provide compensation to individuals involved in the 2021 Capitol attack. After facing backlash during his confirmation hearings, Blanche pledged to discontinue the fund. However, it remains uncertain whether this commitment is legally binding or if Trump could later persuade Blanche to revive a similar scheme under another name. Senators Collins and Murkowski initially held off on backing Blanche due to their lack of confidence in his ability to "check the worst impulses of this administration." Murkowski announced her opposition to Blanche on Friday, citing concerns over the politicization of the justice department. Collins raised questions about Blanche's role in settling Trump's $10 billion lawsuit with the Internal Revenue Service but ultimately trusted him to provide candid legal advice to the president. Before casting the deciding vote, Cassidy stated that Blanche was the best option the president could put forward under the specific circumstances. He emphasized that the vote was not a referendum on President Trump but a decision regarding Blanche. Cassidy acknowledged Trump as the ultimate decider on the direction of the justice department, but believed Senate confirmation would give Blanche greater leverage to push for necessary changes. During Trump's second impeachment in 2021, Cassidy voted to convict Trump over the Capitol riot. However, the vote did not pass, and when Trump returned to office, he successfully forced Cassidy into retirement by backing a primary challenger for his Louisiana Senate seat earlier this year. In response to Blanche's appointment, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer expressed concern that it would be an "excuse on a silver platter to keep up his pervasive, breathtaking corruption." However, most Republicans celebrated the victory, with Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, praising Blanche's patience, compassion, and tenacity throughout the appointment process. Blanche was already serving as Deputy Attorney General when he assumed interim leadership in April, following the dismissal of Pam Bondi.