WASHINGTON — Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) announced Friday that he will vote in favor of confirming Todd Blanche as the next attorney general, effectively confirming his ascent to the nation’s highest law enforcement post.
Cassidy faulted Blanche for having “showed poor judgment in approving the anti-weaponization slush fund and exempting the president from IRS audits,” as well as allowing the Justice Department to target the president’s political enemies, but ultimately concluded: “I will vote for Mr. Blanche.”
“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.
“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.”
With Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) absent due to ongoing health issues, Blanche could only afford to lose two GOP votes in the upper chamber and still be confirmed.
Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) previously announced they would vote “no.”
