WASHINGTON — Todd Blanche was sworn in as attorney general Monday after the Senate confirmed him 50–49.
Former Trump lawyer and current federal appeals judge Emil Bove administered the oath, according to the Associated Press.
Why it matters
Confirmation removes the temporary “acting” label and gives Blanche the full statutory authority of the office. It also sharpens the political stakes of congressional oversight: senators can now judge the department against the commitments and disputes that defined a nearly party-line confirmation.
The vote settles the personnel question. It does not settle the larger argument over the department's independence, which has apparently declined Washington's generous offer to take the afternoon off.
What to watch
Watch for early management directives, major charging or litigation decisions and the schedule of congressional oversight hearings.