Bill Cassidy, the Republican senator from Louisiana who had been the key holdout in the confirmation of Todd Blanche as US Attorney General, announced on Friday, August 7th, 2026, that he will support the nomination. Cassidy’s decision appears to clear the final obstacle for Blanche, who is a former personal lawyer to Donald Trump and a loyal ally of the president.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Cassidy acknowledged that Blanche is "not perfect," but emphasized the choice was between Blanche and another acting attorney general who might not effectively run the Department of Justice under President Trump. Cassidy said, “Mr Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this, but the choice is not between perfection and Mr Blanche; it is between Mr Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump, and who indeed may not be as good as Mr Blanche.”

Blanche’s confirmation process had faced challenges due to opposition from Republican senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. Murkowski announced earlier on Friday that she would not support Blanche’s confirmation, and Collins had already expressed concerns about the independence of the Department of Justice. With their opposition confirmed, Cassidy was the last undecided Republican vote standing between Blanche and confirmation.

Cassidy, who lost his Louisiana primary in May after facing challengers including one backed by Trump, had been under pressure from the White House and had voiced concerns about “lawfare” at the Justice Department before his announcement. With Cassidy’s backing, Blanche is expected to be confirmed by a narrow margin, likely along party lines, as the Senate moves toward a final vote before the five-week August recess.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, though Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, recently released from the hospital, is not attending sessions due to health reasons.

Murkowski’s announcement came a day after Trump was asked in the Oval Office about his strained relationships with Republican critics including Murkowski and Cassidy and whether he would reach out to them to secure the vote.

Notably, both Murkowski and Cassidy were among the few Republicans who voted to convict Trump following his 2021 impeachment related to the January 6 Capitol riot.

Sources