Republican Senator Bill Cassidy announced on Friday, August 7th, 2026, that he would support Todd Blanche's nomination for U.S. attorney general, paving the way for President Donald Trump's controversial pick after weeks of intense scrutiny.

Cassidy emerged as the likely deciding vote following Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska's opposition to Blanche, which had placed the nomination in jeopardy. This development concludes one of the most contentious cabinet confirmation battles of Trump's second term.

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, seen a significant departure of career prosecutors, and declared its service at the president's direction, actions critics argue break long-standing norms of departmental independence.

Cassidy, representing Louisiana, criticized Blanche's involvement in settling 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 concerns, Cassidy expressed trust in Blanche's ability to provide the president with candid legal advice.

This endorsement follows weeks of negotiations between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration over Blanche's nomination, highlighting ongoing debates about the Justice Department's autonomy from the White House.

Sources