Todd Blanche, who previously worked as Donald Trump’s criminal defence lawyer, has been narrowly confirmed as US attorney general following a vote that exposed rare opposition from within Republican ranks.
The confirmation places Blanche in the role of the nation’s top law enforcement official, giving him one of the most powerful legal positions in the federal government.
His appointment is notable because of his previous legal work for Trump, a connection that has drawn attention as he moves from representing the president to leading the country’s law enforcement apparatus.
The vote was narrow, according to the supplied report, and came despite pushback from some Republicans. The resistance was described as rare, underlining that the confirmation was not a straightforward party-line process.
Blanche’s confirmation means he now assumes the responsibilities of attorney general after securing enough support in the vote. No further details were provided on the margin of the vote or the specific objections raised by Republican opponents.
