Former Trump lawyer Todd Blanche has been confirmed by the Senate to be the next attorney general, despite both of Maine’s senators voting against him.

The Bangor Daily News reports that Blanche, who had been serving as acting head of the Justice Department since April, was narrowly confirmed this morning in a 50-49 vote, with Republican Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy placing in the deciding vote.

Maine’s independent Senator Angus King said that Blanche had fumbled the investigation into the Epstein files and forged blanket tax immunity to President Trump and his family.

“While Mr. Blanche has aggressively served Donald Trump the private citizen as his personal attorney — along with the Trump sons and the Trump Organization — the DOJ cannot and most emphatically should not function as any president’s personal law firm,” King said.

Maine Senator Susan Collins said that the Justice Department had become increasingly political under Blanche and previously criticized a proposed $1.8 billion fund for what he described as victims of a weaponized government.

“Mr. Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the Department’s independence,” she said.

Collins, alongside Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski were the only two Republicans who voted against the confirmation.

Her opponent in this year’s Senate race, former Maine Senate president Troy Jackson called her no-vote “weak sauce” earlier this week, adding it amounted to “[throwing] a bone” while voting “with Trump 96% of the time.”

A campaign spokesperson for Collins said that she had previously stated her position and reasoning, and was reportedly unaware of how Sen. Cassidy would vote.

To read the original Bangor Daily News article, click here.