Cassidy Supports Blanche Nomination

PHOTO CAPTION: Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche rides the Senate Subway after a meeting with U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 5, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Lee

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 — Republican Senator Bill Cassidy said Friday he would support Todd Blanche for attorney general, clearing a path for President Donald Trump’s nominee to win confirmation after weeks of scrutiny over decisions critics said blurred the line between the Justice Department and the White House.

Cassidy emerged as the likely deciding vote after Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said earlier Friday that she would oppose Blanche. Cassidy had criticized Blanche’s role in settling Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, including tax immunity granted to Trump and his family businesses and the creation of a since-abandoned $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate Trump allies who allege past government mistreatment.

Cassidy nevertheless said he trusted Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal lawyer, to give the president candid legal advice.

“This is not a referendum on President Trump. It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances,” Cassidy, who represents Louisiana, said on the Senate floor. “All considered, I will vote for Mr. Blanche.”

Murkowski said she lacked confidence in Blanche, who has been serving as acting attorney general, to “check the worst impulses of this administration.” She cited concerns over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, immunity protections for Trump, his family and their businesses, statements made to anti-abortion groups and what she described as repeated targeting of individuals including former administration officials and sitting U.S. senators.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt called Murkowski’s decision “disappointing” but said the administration was not surprised. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last month, the Justice Department said federal law prevented it from releasing unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files requested by New Mexico, intensifying a dispute with state officials investigating the late sex offender.

Republican Senator Susan Collins said earlier this week that she would also oppose Blanche, while a small number of other senators have raised concerns. Senate Republican leader John Thune said he wanted Blanche confirmed before the Senate leaves Washington for a month-long recess scheduled to begin this week.

Blanche won the support of Republican holdouts John Cornyn and Thom Tillis after pledging in writing that Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund was dead and that a related tax-immunity agreement would apply only to past tax returns. Both measures grew out of a settlement of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS.

(Source: Reuters)