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

Cassidy emerged as the likely deciding vote following Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska's opposition to Blanche’s nomination, which had left the confirmation on the brink. Cassidy’s endorsement capped a contentious cabinet battle during Trump’s second term, with bipartisan concerns about Blanche’s ability to maintain independence.

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

Cassidy, representing Louisiana, criticized Blanche’s role in resolving Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service by 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 to provide the president with candid legal advice.

This development follows weeks of negotiations between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration over Blanche’s nomination, signaling a critical step forward in the confirmation process.

Sources