WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche has narrowly secured Senate confirmation as the country’s new attorney general, becoming the nation’s top law enforcement official.

Blanche was confirmed in a 50-49 Senate vote, ending a prolonged standoff between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration over his nomination. He had been serving as acting attorney general since April.

Two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, joined all Senate Democrats in voting against Blanche. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy cast the decisive vote in favour of the nomination, drawing particular attention because of his previously strained relationship with Trump.

Blanche’s nomination faced opposition from some Republicans who questioned his handling of the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and his involvement in establishing Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponisation” fund.

The proposed fund was intended to compensate people who claimed they had been subjected to political persecution by the government. However, critics, including Murkowski, raised concerns that the money could potentially benefit individuals prosecuted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

During his confirmation hearings, Blanche eventually pledged to scale back the controversial fund following pressure from Republican senators.

Blanche’s confirmation places a close Trump ally at the head of the US Department of Justice, where he will oversee federal law enforcement and play a central role in the administration’s legal and criminal justice policies.