In A Boost To Trump, Todd Blanche Narrowly Confirmed As US Attorney General
The US Senate has narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche, a former personal attorney for Donald Trump, as the new Attorney General. The confirmation follows a contentious debate regarding the independence of the Justice Department under the new administration.
Why it matters
This appointment signals a significant shift in the leadership of the US Justice Department, raising questions about the balance of power and the potential for political influence over federal law enforcement.
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a vote early Saturday morning, cementing President Donald Trump's former personal attorney's command of a Justice Department the Republican president has sought to bend to his will.The Republican-led Senate voted 50-49 to make Blanche the second confirmed attorney general since Trump returned to the White House last year with a stated desire to use the law enforcement agency to investigate his political enemies. While Blanche has already been leading the department in an acting capacity, his confirmation could free him to pursue the Trump administration's agenda even more aggressively.The vote followed a tumultuous confirmation fight that exposed deep concerns - from some Republicans as well as Democrats - about installing Trump's close ally atop a Justice Department that historically prided itself on its independence from the White House.In the end, Blanche was confirmed by the narrowest of margins, opposed by two…
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