Republican Senator Bill Cassidy announced on Friday, August 7th, 2026, that he would support Todd Blanche’s nomination for US attorney general, paving the way for President Donald Trump’s controversial pick after weeks of scrutiny regarding the Justice Department’s autonomy from the White House.

Cassidy emerged as the likely deciding vote after Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska declared her opposition to Blanche’s appointment, leaving the nomination uncertain. This development concluded a contentious confirmation process marked by bipartisan concerns over Blanche’s independence.

Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April 2026 and previously managed daily operations at the Justice Department as its second-ranking official. Under his leadership, the department has initiated investigations into Trump’s critics, witnessed a departure of career prosecutors, and stated it operates under the president’s direction, a move critics say breaks long-standing norms of independence.

Cassidy, representing Louisiana, criticized Blanche’s involvement in resolving Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, which included granting tax immunity to Trump and his family businesses and establishing a now-abandoned $1.8 billion fund for Trump allies. Despite these criticisms, Cassidy expressed trust in Blanche’s ability to provide candid legal advice to the president.

This endorsement by Cassidy is a significant step toward confirming Blanche as attorney general, following extensive negotiations between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration.

Sources