In a closely divided Senate vote early Saturday, Todd Blanche was confirmed as the new Attorney General of the United States. The confirmation comes after Blanche, a former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, had been serving in an acting capacity at the Department of Justice (DoJ). Despite bipartisan concerns about Blanche's close ties to the president and his role in controversial settlements, he was confirmed by a narrow margin of 50-49. The vote was particularly contentious due to Republican concerns about a settlement regarding Trump's lawsuit against the IRS. In a written promise, Blanche agreed to abandon Trump's proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for the president's allies and rein in another piece of the settlement designed to shield Trump and his family from IRS tax audits. This assurance was enough to win over Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who cast the decisive vote in Blanche's favor. However, two Republicans - Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska - voted against Blanche, along with every Democrat. The confirmation process was unusually rocky due to these concerns and the controversial settlement, which threatened to derail Blanche's nomination. As a former federal prosecutor in New York and lead attorney on Trump's defense team, Blanche has gained public prominence. His experience defending Trump against criminal charges in two federal cases brought by the Biden administration's DoJ could potentially influence his approach as Attorney General.