After fraught battle, Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general
Cassidy backed Blanche, saying he preferred him to a possible alternative acting attorney general, while criticizing parts of Blanche’s record.
SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
The page carries a USA TODAY byline and explicitly identifies the article as originally appearing there. USA TODAY is an established national newsroom, while Yahoo News is republishing the work rather than presenting it as its own original reporting.
- Source type — An established national-news report attributed to USA TODAY.
- Author attribution — Three named USA TODAY reporters are credited.
- Transparency — The page identifies the original publication and carries a clear attribution.
The report gives the vote result, names senators on both sides, attributes important claims to lawmakers and White House officials, and describes the disputed settlement and Blanche’s changes. Some claims about the deal and its implications are presented through critics or cited reporting rather than independently documented in the article.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article includes Republican concerns and support, White House praise, and criticism from a Democratic senator. It provides meaningful competing views, though it relies heavily on political figures’ statements and gives limited independent assessment of the disputed deal.
- Counterarguments presented — Reports both praise for Blanche and concerns about his conduct and the DOJ settlement.
- Source diversity — Quotes senators from both parties and a White House spokeswoman.
- Omitted context — Offers limited independent evaluation of the disputed settlement’s legal and financial implications.
- Loaded language — The headline’s “fraught battle” framing is supported by the reported Senate divisions and is not strongly inflammatory.
The report uses straightforward language and presents arguments from Republicans who supported and opposed Blanche, along with criticism from a Democratic senator. Its focus on the disputed deal and DOJ politicization is relevant to the confirmation and is presented through attributed claims.
- Source selection — Includes supporters and critics of Blanche, including lawmakers from both parties.
- Language tone — Mostly neutral reporting language with quotations and claims attributed to their speakers.
- Framing — Emphasizes Republican divisions and the disputed settlement without overtly endorsing a side.
Republished with credit
Republished from USA Today, with credit to the original publisher.
Not enough stories yet: 4 of 10.
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a 50-49 vote after weeks of Republican disagreement. Senators raised concerns about Justice Department politicization and a deal involving tax-related immunity and a proposed fund, while Blanche made changes to the deal before confirmation.
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general by a 50-49 vote. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins opposed him; Bill Cassidy, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis ultimately supported him after previously expressing concerns. Cassidy said he preferred Blanche to a possible alternative acting attorney general.
Murkowski objected to what she called accelerated politicization at the Justice Department and to Blanche’s handling of the Epstein files and a settlement offering Trump immunity. Cassidy criticized Blanche’s approval of a proposed fund and Trump’s tax-audit exemption. Blanche later formally dropped the fund and clarified the limits of the tax immunity. Sheldon Whitehouse and other critics questioned whether those changes were sufficient.
Community verdict
23 VOTES
People in this story
SWIPE →Senator who supported Blanche’s confirmation after voicing concerns
Senator who opposed Blanche’s confirmation
Murkowski's version of this story ↗
Attorney general confirmed by the Senate
Blanche's version of this story ↗
Senator who defended the Justice Department’s record under Blanche
Former attorney general whom Trump fired before Blanche became acting attorney general
Senator who opposed Blanche’s confirmation
President who nominated Blanche and was connected to the disputed settlement
Senator who did not vote on Blanche’s confirmation
Federal judge who ruled on the Trump lawsuit and settlement
Senator who criticized the documents modifying the settlement
Senator who ultimately supported Blanche after criticizing a federal case
Senator who ultimately supported Blanche after seeking further concessions
Part of a bigger story
42 OUTLETSOutlets agree Cassidy backed Todd Blanche for attorney general and that the Senate confirmed him; several report Cassidy's support as pivotal. Left-leaning outlets sharply criticize Cassidy's support, with coverage condemning the confirmation vote and treating his defense as political rehabilitation. Center outlets emphasize his pivotal backing while recounting his reservations and other senators' objections; later reports also explain his reasoning. Right-leaning outlets link his support to Blanche's path or confirmation, while noting Cassidy's rationale and concerns about independence and the fund.
- ARTICLES
- 50
- OUTLETS
- 42
- AVG CRED
- 74
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