Senate Confirms Todd Blanche as US Attorney General
The Senate narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general early Saturday, voting 50 to 49 to elevate President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer to lead the Justice Department.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana announced on Friday that he would back Blanche, casting the decisive vote after Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the second Republican to declare opposition, made his confirmation precarious.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Republicans had “handed Trump an excuse on a silver platter” to continue what he called “pervasive, breathtaking corruption.”
Hunter Biden Says Father’s Cancer Has Spread
Hunter Biden said in a BBC interview broadcast late Friday that former President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has spread to other parts of his body, including his bones, and is causing pain.
He described watching his father’s condition as “very sad” and “very debilitating,” and noted that the former president continues to speak out on public issues despite the illness.
In the same interview, Hunter Biden said the pardon he received from his father was “not good” for the United States or for the former president’s legacy, and denied any interest in running for office.
State of Emergency Declared as British Columbia Wildfire Spreads
Authorities in British Columbia declared a state of emergency as the Bald Range wildfire, still classified as out of control, burned across more than 25,000 acres (about 95 square kilometres) and forced the evacuation of roughly 18,000 people.
Officials said the fire expanded by more than 2,000 acres in about an hour at one point, underscoring the speed of the blaze as crews battle to contain it.