Trump formally nominates Blanche to be attorney general

President Donald Trump has formally nominated Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer, to serve as the United States Attorney General. Blanche has been acting attorney general since April, and his nomination now moves to the US Senate for confirmation. This move signals Trump's intent to place a close confidant in the nation's top law enforcement position.

The nomination presents a significant test for Trump's influence over Senate Republicans. With the party holding a slim 53-47 majority, Blanche will require near-unanimous Republican support. This comes at a time when some Republican senators have demonstrated a growing willingness to diverge from Trump's agenda, despite months of largely complying with his demands.

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Blanche is well-qualified and has shown his dedication to restoring law and order across our country.

Blanche's path to confirmation is complicated by recent controversies. The Justice Department was forced to abandon a proposed $1.8 billion fund for victims of alleged government "weaponization," a plan that drew sharp criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. Senator Thom Tillis, a key Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has previously expressed skepticism about Blanche, citing concerns over the scrapped fund and a criminal case involving former FBI Director James Comey.

Despite these challenges, Trump appears to favor Blanche's actions as acting attorney general, particularly his efforts to expedite cases against Trump's perceived adversaries. This includes securing a second indictment against Comey and initiating charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center. Senator Chuck Grassley, the Republican chair of the Senate Judiciary panel, praised Blanche for his "commitment to transparency and support for law enforcement." However, the panel's top Democrat, Senator Dick Durbin, sharply criticized the selection, stating, “Donald Trump has been engaged in the most corrupt enterprise in the history of the Presidency. Todd Blanche apparently has not noticed.”

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Donald Trump has been engaged in the most corrupt enterprise in the history of the Presidency. Todd Blanche apparently has not noticed.