Republican Senator Bill Cassidy declared on Friday, August 7, 2026, that he would support Todd Blanche for US attorney general, paving the way for President Donald Trump’s controversial nominee. Cassidy’s backing came after Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced her opposition to Blanche, leaving the nomination uncertain.

Blanche, who has served as acting attorney general since April 2026 and previously managed daily operations at the Justice Department as its second-ranking official, faced intense scrutiny over concerns about the department’s independence from the White House. Under his leadership, the Justice Department has initiated investigations into Trump’s critics, seen an exodus of career prosecutors, and declared it operates under the president’s direction, breaking with long-standing norms of independence.

Cassidy, representing Louisiana, criticised 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.

This development concludes weeks of negotiations between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration regarding Blanche’s nomination, marking a significant moment in one of the most contentious cabinet fights of Trump’s second term.

Sources