Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met on Capitol Hill Wednesday, August 6th, 2026, with Republican Senators Bill Cassidy and Lisa Murkowski as they consider whether to support his nomination to serve as attorney general, sources told ABC News.

Blanche’s confirmation faces a narrow path, as he can afford to lose only one GOP vote. Senator Susan Collins announced Tuesday she would vote against Blanche’s nomination when it reaches the Senate floor, possibly by the end of the week. With Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell absent and Democrats opposing the nomination, a "no" vote from either Cassidy or Murkowski could derail Blanche’s confirmation.

Cassidy expressed concerns about what he called “lawfare” at the Department of Justice, referring to prosecutions driven by political motivations, presumably linked to President Donald Trump. He also emphasized the need for Blanche to be seen as an attorney general serving the country, not just as President Trump’s former personal attorney, stating, "I've got to be convinced that he is an attorney general who just happens to have once been President Trump's personal attorney, as opposed to President Trump's personal attorney who is now the attorney general.”

Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who had previously opposed Blanche’s confirmation over issues including President Trump’s IRS immunity deal and the administration’s $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," voted to advance Blanche out of committee to a Senate floor vote after reaching an agreement with Blanche. Despite the agreement lacking language to prevent the fund’s potential resurrection under another name or method, Cornyn said the Department of Justice has been "consistent" in asserting that the fund is dead.

The confirmation vote remains closely watched as Blanche seeks to secure enough Republican support to be confirmed as attorney general.

Sources

ABC News: Blanche meets with 2 key Republican senators ahead of confirmation vote