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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

US Senate confirms Trump’s ex-lawyer as attorney general

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Todd Blanche, former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, was confirmed as US attorney general.
  • The Senate confirmed his nomination by a narrow 50-49 vote, with Republicans supporting him against Democratic opposition.
  • Democrats raised concerns about the politicization of the Justice Department under Blanche's leadership.

Todd Blanche, who previously served as President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, has been confirmed as the US attorney general. The Senate approved his nomination by a slim margin of 50 votes to 49, with Republicans largely supporting his appointment despite Democratic objections.

The attorney general is supposed to be the people’s lawyer. Mr Blanche continues to operate as the president’s personal lawyer, treating the Justice Department like a law firm serving one client, the president.

— Senator Dick DurbinExpressing Democratic concerns over Todd Blanche's nomination and his relationship with President Trump.

Blanche has been acting as the top US law enforcement officer since April. His confirmation faced opposition from Democrats who accused President Trump of turning the Department of Justice into a political tool. Senator Dick Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, stated, “The attorney general is supposed to be the people’s lawyer. Mr Blanche continues to operate as the president’s personal lawyer, treating the Justice Department like a law firm serving one client, the president.”

Concerns were also raised regarding Trump's proposal for a $1.8 billion fund for victims of politicized prosecutions, potentially including January 6th Capitol rioters, and an extraordinary measure granting Trump immunity from tax audits. Blanche addressed these sticking points by issuing a written order to scrap the "anti-weaponisation fund" and limiting the audit immunity to retroactive tax years.

The main sticking point was an attempt to establish a $1.8 billion fund for what Trump calls victims of politicised prosecutions, likely including the rioters who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempted insurrection to prevent Joe Biden from being certified as president after his defeat of Trump in the 2020 election.

— Article textDetailing one of the key issues that caused doubt over the White House's ability to secure enough votes for confirmation.

Blanche's confirmation solidifies his role following his tenure representing Trump in several criminal trials. His appointment comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Justice Department's independence and its relationship with the Trump administration.

The other main issue was an extraordinary proposal granting immunity to Trump from tax audits.

— Article textHighlighting another significant point of contention during the confirmation process.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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