Sen. Bill Cassidy backs Todd Blanche for attorney general, paving way for confirmation
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Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy announced his support for Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general, a vote that could secure Blanche's confirmation despite opposition from two GOP senators and all Democrats.
Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said on the Senate floor that he will vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general, a move that is expected to give the nominee enough votes to win the post. Blanche, who has served as acting attorney general since President Trump removed Pam Bondi in April, was nominated by the president in June.
"Mr. Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this, but the choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche," Cassidy said. "It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump."
Cassidy’s endorsement makes Blanche’s confirmation likely, as Republicans control the Senate and only two GOP senators—Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska—have announced opposition. All Democrats are expected to vote against the nominee.
Blanche’s path has been complicated by criticism over a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund created to compensate individuals who claim they were targeted by the federal government, and a tax-audit immunity agreement for President Trump and his family. Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump in the second impeachment trial, said Blanche showed "poor judgment" in approving those measures but added that the nominee is "criticized for things over which he has no control."
During his confirmation hearing, Blanche told senators the fund had been terminated and the tax-immunity directive rescinded, steps that helped win the backing of Judiciary Committee Republicans John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. The committee advanced his nomination to the full Senate on a party-line vote.
The nominee also faced scrutiny over the Justice Department’s handling of more than three million pages of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and his meeting with Epstein’s former associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Blanche acknowledged mistakes in the release of unredacted victim information and said he had met with survivors, though some survivors described the meeting as a "check-the-box exercise" aimed at securing votes.
The Senate is scheduled to consider several GOP priorities on Friday before a five-week recess, and it remains unclear whether Blanche’s confirmation will be taken up during that session, as it would require Democratic consent to expedite the vote.