The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination for U.S. Attorney General to the full Senate.
The move clears a primary legislative hurdle for the nominee, bringing the administration closer to securing a permanent head for the Department of Justice.
The committee reached its decision through a 12-10 party-line vote [1]. The proceedings occurred on July 15, 2026 [2], though some reports placed the event as late as July 17 [1].
The path to the vote required negotiations with members of the Republican party. Two GOP holdout senators eventually changed their positions to support the nomination [3]. These senators backed down after receiving written assurances that a controversial fund was dead [4].
Blanche currently serves as the acting Attorney General. His nomination is a key priority for President Donald Trump, who selected Blanche to lead the nation's top law enforcement agency.
The nomination process has been marked by scrutiny over legal interpretations and past deals. Recent reports indicate Blanche has maintained that a specific immunity deal regarding the Internal Revenue Service remains in effect, despite court rulings that essentially voided the agreement [2].
With the committee's approval, the nomination now moves to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote. The party-line nature of the committee vote suggests that the final floor vote will likely follow a similar partisan divide.
“The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination for U.S. Attorney General to the full Senate.”
The advancement of Todd Blanche's nomination signals a consolidation of power within the Department of Justice under the current administration. By securing the support of GOP holdouts through written guarantees, the administration has minimized internal party friction, though the strict party-line vote indicates that the nomination remains a polarizing issue that will likely face significant opposition from Democratic senators during the final full Senate vote.
