Afghanistan, Aug. 9 -- The U.S. Senate has narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, as the next U.S. attorney general, placing him permanently in charge of the Justice Department after a closely contested confirmation battle.
The Senate voted 50-49 early Saturday to confirm Blanche. Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Democrats in opposing his nomination.
Blanche had been serving as acting attorney general since April after previously serving as deputy attorney general. Trump formally nominated him in June to lead the Justice Department on a permanent basis.
Before joining the Trump administration, Blanche represented Trump as a private criminal-defense l...