Hakeem Jeffries tells voters ‘remember in November’ after Todd Blanche confirmation

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Hakeem Jeffries, theGrio.com
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 27: U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol building on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Senate passed a bill in the early morning hours on Friday to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Border Patrol, which now has to get through the House and the Presidents desk as delays at airports around the country continue to grow due to TSA agents having to go without pay for over 40 days. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

The House Democratic leader pointed to the one-vote margin after the Senate confirmed Trump’s former personal lawyer as attorney general.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized Senate Republicans after Todd Blanche was confirmed as attorney general in an overnight 50-49 vote. The Todd Blanche confirmation followed weeks of scrutiny over President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and came after TheGrio reported on Blanche’s narrow Senate victory and Black leaders questioning whether he was qualified to lead the Justice Department.

In an Instagram video posted after the vote, Jeffries called Blanche “deeply unqualified” and a “political hack,” then focused on the one-vote margin. “Just one vote made the difference,” Jeffries said. “Democrats held the line. Republicans caved. Remember in November.”

Official Senate records confirm Blanche won 50 votes to 49, with one senator not voting. The Senate Daily Press log records the confirmation as completed around 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 8 after senators began the confirmation roll call shortly after 4 a.m.

Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Democrats in voting against Blanche. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky did not vote. Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy supported Blanche after previously expressing concerns about the nomination.

The Blanche Senate vote followed Republican objections over the Justice Department’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents, a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and tax protections connected to Trump and his family. Blanche provided written assurances to narrow the tax-immunity agreement and end the proposed payments before his confirmation.

Blanche had served as acting attorney general since April after previously serving as deputy attorney general. Before joining the administration, he represented Trump in criminal cases, a connection Democrats repeatedly cited while questioning whether he could maintain the Justice Department’s independence.

Collins said the department had become increasingly political and that actions taken by Blanche had further eroded its independence. Murkowski also raised concerns about the Epstein files, tax protections and the possibility that the disputed fund could return after the Senate lost leverage over the nomination.

The Todd Blanche confirmation gives him permanent control of the Justice Department after months in an acting role. For Jeffries, however, the Blanche Senate vote is also a campaign message: with the confirmation decided by a single vote, he is urging voters to remember the Republican support when they head to the polls in November.

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