托德·布兰奇在参议院狭隘多数支持下获得美国司法部长确认，于周六凌晨(华盛顿时间)通过投票[1]。布兰奇是总统权力的倡导者，认为特朗普根据宪法第二条有权直接控制司法部的行动[1]。在参议院听证中，当民主党参议员克里斯·库恩斯询问司法部是否"独立于白宫"时，布兰奇回答称"宪法第二条赋予行政权给特朗普总统"[1]。布兰奇声称特朗普有"权利"和"责任"下令调查他的目标[1]。
布兰奇的确认代表国会对这一哲学的认可，即司法部长应执行总统的每一项合法命令，即使这违反了长期政策和法治规范[1]。共和党参议员苏珊·柯林斯和丽莎·穆尔科斯基投票反对，穆尔科斯基表示"国家需要一位能制约本政府最坏冲动的司法部长"[1]。此前，布兰奇与特朗普就国税局诉讼和解协议相关的税收保护引发争议，该协议创建了18亿美元基金并授予特朗普广泛的税务调查豁免权[1]。
Todd Blanche secured confirmation as U.S. Attorney General early Saturday morning with narrow Republican support in the Senate.[1] The appointment reflects endorsement of Blanche's constitutional philosophy that positions the Justice Department as directly subject to presidential authority under Article II of the Constitution.[1]
During his Senate testimony, Blanche affirmed that President Trump possesses the "right" and "responsibility" to order investigations into his adversaries.[1] When Democratic Senator Chris Coons questioned whether the Justice Department would remain "independent of the White House," Blanche responded by invoking Article II, stating that it "vests executive power in President Trump."[1] This exchange underscored a fundamental shift in how the incoming administration views the attorney general's role—not as an independent guardian of the rule of law, but as an executor of the president's lawful commands, even when such orders conflict with established departmental policies and legal precedent.[1]
The confirmation drew opposition from Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, who voted against Blanche's nomination.[1] Murkowski stated that "the nation needs an attorney general who will check the worst impulses of this administration,"[1] highlighting concerns that the position would be subordinated to presidential interests rather than serving as an institutional counterbalance.[1] The controversy surrounding Blanche extends to his involvement in a settlement agreement related to an IRS lawsuit, which established an $1.8 billion fund and granted Trump broad tax investigation immunity protections.[1]