Trump’s Former Lawyer Todd Blanche Sworn In as US Attorney General

Todd Blanche has officially taken office as United States Attorney General, completing a turbulent confirmation process that exposed deep divisions in the Senate over President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Justice Department.

Blanche was sworn in on Monday at the White House after the Senate confirmed him by the narrowest of margins, 50-49, in an overnight vote on Saturday.

The ceremony was administered by Emil Bove, a federal appeals court judge and former Trump lawyer who previously worked alongside Blanche on Trump’s legal defence team. The White House ceremony was closed to the press.

Blanche, a former federal prosecutor who later became one of Trump’s personal defence lawyers, had been serving as acting attorney general since April, following Trump’s removal of Pam Bondi.

Blanche’s confirmation followed a bruising Senate battle, with concerns raised by Democrats and some Republicans over his independence, his close relationship with Trump and the direction of the Justice Department under the administration.

The 50-49 vote saw all Democratic senators and two Republicans oppose his confirmation, according to reports.

The confirmation process had initially faced resistance from Republican senators, including John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, amid concerns surrounding a proposed Justice Department fund and other issues.

Blanche eventually secured enough Republican support after providing written assurances concerning the administration’s controversial proposed $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, which critics had questioned.

During his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in July, Blanche faced more than five hours of questioning.

Senators pressed him on the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, the proposed anti-weaponization fund, a settlement involving President Trump’s tax audits and the department’s approach to subpoenas targeting news organisations.

Blanche also faced questions about whether his previous work as Trump’s personal lawyer could compromise his independence as the country’s top law-enforcement official.

He defended his record and pledged to uphold the Justice Department’s responsibilities while maintaining that presidential involvement in the department was constitutionally appropriate.

Blanche’s relationship with Trump has been central to both his political rise and the controversy surrounding his appointment.

He represented Trump in several criminal cases in 2023 and 2024 before joining the administration as deputy attorney general. The Justice Department’s official biography says Blanche spent nearly 15 years earlier in his career working in various roles within the department before becoming a defence lawyer.

As attorney general, he will now oversee more than 100,000 Justice Department employees, including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the federal prison system.

His priorities are expected to include Trump’s agenda on immigration enforcement, violent crime, drug-trafficking organisations and protecting taxpayers from fraud.

Blanche takes over at a particularly turbulent period for the Justice Department.

His predecessor, Bondi, was removed by Trump after the president expressed dissatisfaction with her handling of several issues, including the Epstein investigation and files.

Blanche’s appointment has intensified a broader debate over whether the Justice Department can maintain institutional independence while carrying out the priorities of a president who has repeatedly challenged the traditional boundaries between the White House and federal law enforcement.

Supporters argue that Blanche’s familiarity with Trump gives him the ability to manage the president’s expectations while maintaining control of the department.

Critics, however, point to his previous role as Trump’s personal lawyer and question whether he can independently oversee investigations and legal matters involving the president and his administration.

With his swearing-in now complete, Blanche faces the challenge of leading an agency at the centre of some of the most politically sensitive legal battles in the United States.

His tenure is likely to be closely watched by Congress, the courts and civil-rights organisations as the Justice Department navigates questions of presidential power, law enforcement independence and accountability.