Sen. Bill Cassidy Enables Conservative Status Quo by Backing Todd Blanche for Attorney General
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Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy has thrown his support behind Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general, framing the vote as complicated, but ultimately reinforcing conservative priorities over real justice reform.
Sen. Bill Cassidy attempted to portray his vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general as a nuanced decision, calling it a “gradation of gray.” Yet, despite the rhetoric, Cassidy’s move on the Senate floor Friday and his remarks on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” reveal a continued willingness to uphold a system that resists meaningful change.
Cassidy referenced opposition to Blanche that focused on the Justice Department’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund—a fund designed to provide restitution to those harmed by federal overreach. Instead of championing accountability, Cassidy accepted reassurances from establishment figures like Sen. John Cornyn that the fund’s reinstatement was “effectively dead,” using this as justification for his support.
“No American should be targeted by the law, but no American should be above the law,” Cassidy claimed, while simultaneously excusing the settlement that granted sweeping immunity to President Trump’s family—a move that nearly led him to vote no, but ultimately did not.
Cassidy also cited praise from U.S. attorneys in Louisiana, prioritizing the so-called stability and effectiveness of a Justice Department that has too often failed to protect marginalized communities. Even as he acknowledged “existential anxiety” about future elections, Cassidy expressed faith in Blanche’s ability to uphold the Constitution, ignoring the deeper systemic issues at play.
With the GOP holding 53 Senate seats and the absence of Mitch McConnell, Cassidy’s vote was pivotal. His decision to back Blanche ensured the confirmation of yet another conservative figure to a critical post, early Saturday, maintaining the status quo rather than pushing for real progress.