Bill Cassidy explains why he backed Todd Blanche for attorney general

Senator Bill Cassidy, whose vote was essential to confirming Todd Blanche as attorney general, justified his choice in an interview with a host at one outlet. He described the decision as a nuanced judgment rather than a clear-cut one, highlighting the contentious $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund linked to a settlement that shielded Donald Trump and his associates from IRS audits. Cassidy said he depended on information from Senator John Cornyn, who assured him the fund’s reinstatement was effectively dead, and on counsel from former Attorney General Bill Barr.

Although he expressed unease about the immunity clause, he pointed to strong endorsements from Louisiana’s U.S. attorneys regarding Blanche’s performance. The confirmation passed by a single vote, with only two Republicans—Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins—opposing, and Mitch McConnell absent due to medical leave. Cassidy’s support came despite his strained relationship with Trump after his 2021 impeachment vote and his recent primary loss to Trump-backed Julia Letlow.