Todd Blanche has been sworn in as US attorney general during a ceremony at the White House on Monday. The president's former personal attorney and defense lawyer, who has been serving as acting attorney general since April, now formally takes the reins of the Department of Justice.
Blanche was confirmed over the weekend following a narrow 50-49 Senate vote. The confirmation was secured after the White House persuaded a handful of Republican holdouts to join the yes column. Two Republicans opposed the appointment, citing concerns over the increased politicization of the Justice Department under Trump.
Now installed in his position, Blanche faces the challenge of navigating the demands of a president who has made no secret of his desire to use the law enforcement agency to target political foes. He faces pressure from the president to go after critics, including former FBI director James B. Comey.