Charles Schumer

Todd Blanche's narrow confirmation as attorney general triggered an immediate wave of criticism from Democratic lawmakers and watchdog groups, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accusing Republicans of giving President Donald Trump "an excuse on a silver platter" to continue his "pervasive, breathtaking corruption."

Blanche, Trump's former personal attorney, was confirmed by the Senate in a razor-thin 50-49 vote early Saturday morning after winning over key Republican holdouts, including Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy. Cassidy's support ultimately provided the margin needed for confirmation after Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski announced their opposition. The confirmation cements Blanche's leadership of the Justice Department after months of controversy over his handling of issues ranging from the Jeffrey Epstein files to a proposed $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.

Blanche had been serving as acting attorney general since Pam Bondi was removed from the role in April after Trump expressed frustration with the Justice Department's handling of records related to Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender whose death in jail in 2019 has remained the subject of intense public scrutiny. His tenure quickly became a flashpoint on Capitol Hill, with critics questioning whether he could operate independently from the White House after taking a series of actions they argued blurred the line between the Justice Department and the president's political interests.

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In a statement after the vote, Schumer argued Republicans had compromised the Justice Department's independence by elevating one of Trump's former defense lawyers to the nation's top law-enforcement post.

“If you want to wipe out corruption, you can't have the president's personal attorney as the Attorney General," Schumer said. "Todd Blanche has no intention of stopping Trump's corruption. He advanced his career enabling it."

In a statement shared with Newsweek, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Blanche's confirmation "a huge win for President Trump and our country" and said he would be a "phenomenal Attorney General of the United States." Leavitt added that Americans would be "well served by his unwavering commitment to law and order."

Democrats Warn About DOJ Independence

Schumer was far from alone in condemning Blanche's confirmation.

Senator Chris Coons of Delaware was among the Democrats who accused Blanche of putting loyalty to Trump ahead of his obligations to the public.

"Blanche has already shown us exactly where his loyalties lie—and it's not with the law or the American people," Coons wrote on X. "It's with protecting Trump's allies and enabling unprecedented corruption at DOJ. I voted NO."

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also criticized the overnight vote, arguing that Republicans pushed the nomination through while much of the country was asleep.

"Under the cover of darkness, Republicans confirmed Donald Trump's personal lawyer to serve as Attorney General," Pelosi wrote on X. "The American people deserve a Justice Department that defends the rule of law, not one weaponized to protect the President, reward his allies & shield his corruption."

New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Luján tied his opposition to the Justice Department's handling of matters related to Epstein.

"The survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's horrific crimes deserve transparency and accountability, not continued efforts to withhold information or shield those in positions of power," Luján wrote on X. "Under Todd Blanche's leadership, the DOJ will continue putting President Trump's personal and political interests ahead of justice and accountability for victims. I voted NO."

Luján's criticism echoed a broader Democratic argument that Blanche's handling of Epstein-related records, his role in the IRS settlement and his close relationship with Trump raised questions about whether he could operate independently from the White House.

Watchdog Group Sounds Alarm

Opposition also came from outside Congress.

Donald K. Sherman, president and CEO of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), accused Senate Republicans of failing to act as a constitutional check on executive power.

"With this vote, a majority of the Senate abdicated its constitutional responsibility to serve as a check on the executive, and instead helped President Trump craft a Justice Department that will serve him, not the American people," Sherman said in a statement.

He added that it was "disgusting and disheartening" that Senate Republicans were "not only going along with Trump's authoritarian wishes, but using their power to grant them, over and over again."

CREW was among several progressive and democracy-focused organizations that opposed Blanche's nomination in the weeks leading up to Saturday's vote.

The Vote Came Down to Bill Cassidy

The final outcome remained uncertain until the last days of the confirmation fight.

Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska ultimately opposed Blanche, joining every Democratic and independent senator in voting against him. Both lawmakers cited concerns about Blanche's actions as acting attorney general, as well as questions about the Justice Department's independence under his leadership.

Cassidy, however, ultimately broke in Blanche's favor after weeks of uncertainty surrounding the nomination.

The Louisiana Republican had expressed concerns about Blanche's role in a contentious IRS settlement deal and a proposed $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund that critics argued could benefit Trump allies.

But after discussions with Blanche and consultation with former Attorney General William Barr, Cassidy announced Friday that he would support the nomination.

Cassidy said he believed Blanche's experience as Trump's lawyer could position him to push back on the president when necessary and argued that a Senate-confirmed attorney general would have more leverage than an acting official.

"All considered, I will vote for Mr. Blanche," Cassidy said.

His decision effectively cleared the path for confirmation, allowing Blanche to secure the 50 votes he needed despite bipartisan concerns that had threatened to derail the nomination for weeks.

What Blanche and Supporters Are Saying

Blanche has rejected accusations that he would serve as a political operative for Trump.

Following the vote, he wrote on X that he was "deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me to lead the Department of Justice as our great nation's 88th Attorney General."

Supporters, including Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, have argued that Blanche's experience as both a federal prosecutor and defense attorney makes him uniquely qualified to lead the department. Grassley called him "the right choice" to serve as attorney general.

Cassidy said he concluded that Blanche could effectively lead the Justice Department under Trump and argued that a Senate-confirmed attorney general would be better positioned to push back on the president when necessary. "This is not a referendum on President Trump," Cassidy said before announcing his support. "It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances."