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

Cassidy became the likely deciding vote following Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska’s announcement that she would oppose Blanche’s nomination, which had left the confirmation on the brink.

The nomination battle was one of the most contentious of Trump’s second term, with bipartisan concerns about Blanche’s independence nearly derailing the process. Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April 2026 and previously managed day-to-day operations of the Justice Department as its second-ranking official.

Under Blanche’s leadership, the Justice Department has initiated investigations into Trump’s critics, witnessed a departure of career prosecutors, and declared it operates under the president’s direction, breaking with what critics describe as long-standing norms of independence.

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

Sources