Senate confirms Blanche as D.C. U.S. Attorney

The GOP-controlled Senate narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia on Thursday, giving President Donald Trump a key ally inside the Justice Department just as multiple investigations into his administration and associates intensify.

Blanche, a former Trump White House lawyer who once represented the former president in his New York hush-money case, was confirmed 50-47 along party lines. His confirmation comes after Trump pushed Senate Republicans to fast-track his nomination, arguing that a Trump-aligned prosecutor in Washington would protect his allies and scrutinize the legal threats facing him and his allies. The vote capped months of partisan battles over control of the Justice Department, a fight that flared after Trump and his allies accused the department of weaponizing law enforcement against conservatives during the Biden administration.

Blanche’s appointment is unusually personal. He served as Trump’s lead attorney in the New York case where the former president was convicted last year of falsifying business records. That case is now on appeal, and Blanche would oversee any future legal actions related to it. Critics warn that his ties to Trump create a conflict of interest, while supporters argue he will restore “fairness” to a department they claim was politicized under Biden. Senate Democrats blasted the confirmation as a violation of long-standing norms, with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calling it “a dangerous step toward turning the Justice Department into Donald Trump’s personal law firm.” Republicans countered that Blanche’s experience and loyalty make him the right choice to “drain the swamp” from within.

What happens next matters for Trump’s legal future—and for the integrity of federal law enforcement. Blanche now takes over a D.C. U.S. Attorney’s office that has charged or investigated Trump allies in cases ranging from election interference to classified documents. Within days, he could decide whether to pursue, dismiss, or expand those cases. Legal experts say his appointment could accelerate efforts to review or unwind ongoing prosecutions, including those tied to January 6 and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Meanwhile, Democrats are preparing oversight hearings, threatening subpoenas to probe Blanche’s ties to Trump. The confirmation also signals a broader shift: Trump is reshaping the Justice Department in his image, prioritizing loyalty and political alignment over traditional independence—a move that could reshape federal law enforcement for years to come.