Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., announced Friday that he will back Todd Blanche for attorney general, giving President Donald Trump a key vote in the closely watched confirmation fight.
Cassidy, who has repeatedly frustrated Trump and conservative voters, still took several shots at Blanche before ultimately falling in line.
The Louisiana senator criticized Blanche for what he called poor decisions at the Justice Department, including his handling of an anti-weaponization fund and tax-related protections involving the president.
But after laying out his objections, Cassidy arrived at the bottom line conservatives were waiting for.
“I will vote for Mr. Blanche.”
Cassidy said the choice was not between Blanche and some ideal candidate, but between Blanche and the possibility of another acting attorney general taking control of the department.
“Mr. Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this, but the choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche: It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump, and who indeed may not be as good as Mr. Blanche,” said Cassidy.
The senator also warned that continued instability at the Justice Department could undermine efforts to combat violent crime, trafficking and fraud.
I will support Todd Blanche for U.S. Attorney General. pic.twitter.com/PKWr3atuvA
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) August 7, 2026
“This puts at risk the progress made fighting violent crime, human and drug trafficking and fraud. And this does not serve the American people well. This is not a referendum on President Trump. It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances.”
Cassidy’s support is especially important because Republicans have little room for error in the Senate.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is absent because of ongoing health issues, leaving Blanche able to lose only two Republican votes and still win confirmation.
Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, have already announced that they will vote against Blanche.
That left Cassidy as one of the key holdouts capable of creating a major headache for the White House.
Instead, the senator who has frequently found himself on the wrong side of Donald Trump and the MAGA base ultimately chose not to stand in the way.
His decision gives Blanche a clearer path to confirmation and hands Trump another important personnel victory as the administration moves to tighten its grip on the Justice Department.
