Washington, DC – The US Senate on Saturday confirmed Todd Blanch, President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, as Attorney General. This came after Senate Republicans disregarded Democratic concerns about the politicization of the Justice Department, according to Agence France-Presse.
The Republican majority decides the vote.
The formal confirmation came in a crucial session marked by a clear divide. Blanche secured the support of the slim Republican majority, winning by a single vote of 50 to 49. Most recently, Blanche served as acting Attorney General, having amassed extensive legal experience closely associated with Trump. He represented Trump as his private lawyer in several high-profile criminal trials prior to his official appointment to the administration.
Fears of a “revenge campaign” and a controversial tax settlement
Blanch is closely associated with what Democrats describe as a “witch hunt” led by Trump against his political opponents. He also played a key role in helping negotiate a controversial legal settlement related to Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over the unlawful release of his tax returns. The proposed settlement included provisions exempting Trump from an audit of his tax returns for previous years. A $1.776 billion fund was also established to compensate individuals who claim they were unfairly targeted by the Justice Department.
Sharp criticism from Jeffrey Epstein’s victims
In addition to political and tax controversies, Todd Blanch has faced sharp criticism from Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. This stems from his handling of the investigation into the late financier, a convicted sex offender with close ties to President Donald Trump. His appointment is seen as a key step in the restructuring of the US judicial and security apparatus under the current administration.
