US President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Todd Blanche has been narrowly confirmed as attorney general - the nation's top law enforcement official. The vote brings to an end a lengthy standoff between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration over Blanche, who has served as acting attorney general since April. Blanche won confirmation in a 50-49 vote overnight, with two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, joining all Democrats to oppose his nomination. After the vote, Blanche said he was "deeply honoured by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me". Blanche eventually pledged to walk back the fund after blowback from Republican senators during his confirmation hearings.