"The choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche. It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting attorney general," Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said.Show Caption
WASHINGTON – Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's bid to fill that role permanently appeared poised for success after Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana announced Aug. 7 that he would vote in Blanche's favor.Cassidy, who is slated to step away from the Senate in January after losing his Republican primary this year to a candidate backed by President Donald Trump, said from the Senate floor that Blanche isn't a perfect choice to run the Justice Department."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," Cassidy said.It was clear by the morning of Aug. 7 that the nomination of Blanche, a former personal defense lawyer to Trump, was at risk. With Cassidy's vote, Blanche will now likely squeak through.Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, announced on social media in the morning that she wouldn't support his bid. She said the Trump administration had "accelerated" politicization at the DOJ, and she also took issue with Blanche's handling of the Epstein files and what she described as "sweeping immunity protections" he gave Trump in a controversial settlement.Murkowski's announcement followed Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins' statement Aug. 4 that she also wouldn't support Blanche's bid. Collins voiced similar concerns over the immunity for Trump, Blanche's decision to approve a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund that he has since walked back, and DOJ politicization.The two Republican women's opposition meant Blanche either needed every remaining Republican to vote in his favor or, if Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who has been recovering from a fall and pneumonia, returned to the Senate, Blanche could afford to lose just one more vote.Stumbles in Senate for Blanche's attorney general bidBlanche, whom Trump nominated to become the permanent attorney general in June, already faced a volatile nomination process in recent weeks. Two Republican senators on the Judiciary Committee, Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina – who, like Cassidy, are slated to exit the Senate in January – temporarily withheld their support.The Republican pair later agreed to support Blanche, after he made concessions when it came to the DOJ settlement conferring benefits to Trump and Trump allies.The deal attempted to settle a lawsuit brought by Trump, his two oldest sons and the Trump Organization. The lawsuit alleged the IRS owed them $10 billion for failing to prevent a contractor from leaking their tax information.The Trumps said they were dropping their lawsuit in exchange for government promises. The DOJ said it would create a $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund that could have given taxpayer dollars to Trump supporters who committed crimes during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. It also promised the Trump associates immunity from potential government claims against them, including for their past tax returns.The tax immunity deal could be a huge financial boon to the president. The New York Times reported in 2020 that Trump was in a decade-long audit battle with the IRS over a claimed $72.9 million tax refund. Losing that battle could cost him more than $100 million, according to the Times.The deal has been widely criticized as self-dealing on Trump's part, given he nominates and can fire DOJ leaders.Florida federal Judge Kathleen M. Williams ruled July 13 the lawsuit was essentially an attempt to legitimize giving the president benefits, and prohibited the Trumps from using or referring to the deal in any official proceedings. However, it's unclear whether and how her order constrains the DOJ's and IRS's private dealings with the president.Facing bipartisan backlash from Congress, Blanche previously said the DOJ wouldn't move forward with the fund.But after Cornyn and Tillis said they wanted more in order to support his nomination, he issued a document formally dropping the funding, and a second document clarifying that the Trump immunity on tax issues is limited to Trump, his two oldest sons and the Trump Organization, and only applies to past tax years.The Senate Judiciary Committee then voted 12-10 on party lines Aug. 4 to advance Blanche's nomination to the full Senate.Blanche controversiesCritics say Blanche's promises aren't enough because the terms of the initial deal say it can only be modified "with the written agreement of the Parties," which would include Trump himself. They also say Blanche could change his mind, or find other ways to direct taxpayer funds to Jan. 6 rioters."There is enough weasel room in these documents to drive a truck through," Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, said at an Aug. 4 hearing, shortly before the Judiciary Committee approved Blanche's nomination along party lines.Blanche has also come under fire for pursuing federal charges in North Carolina against former FBI Director James Comey, a prominent Trump critic. Trump publicly called for Comey to face unspecified charges in a September 2025 social media post.The charges allege Comey threatened to harm or kill the president by posting on social media an image of seashells in the shape of "86 47.""86" is a slang term that means "to throw out" or "to get rid of," according to Merriam-Webster. Trump is the 47th U.S. president.Tillis himself criticized the case at the Aug. 4 hearing, even while he voted to advance Blanche's nomination."The '86 47' – some bonehead in North Carolina thinks that that's a crime. Well, they better damn sure have information to back it up, because if all it is is a picture, that person should lose his job, his or her job," Tillis said.Blanche held a press conference April 29 at which he personally announced the charges.It's the second criminal case brought against Comey under the current Trump administration. The first case, alleging Comey lied to Congress, was dismissed in November.Support for BlancheSome congressional Republicans have voiced enthusiasm for Blanche, saying he has built a strong record tackling crime.Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, defended the DOJ's record under Blanche at a July 15 hearing, praising the DOJ's capture of fugitives on the FBI's "Most Wanted" list and arrest of people tied to the illegal fentanyl trade.Cassidy said in his Senate remarks that Blanche "showed poor judgment" by ever approving the "anti-weaponization" fund and by exempting Trump from IRS audits. He said he was "particularly concerned" about the DOJ bringing cases against political opponents.However, Cassidy also praised Blanche as "a hands-on administrator" who has prioritized tackling violent crime, human and drug trafficking, and fraud.Cassidy also emphasized that former Attorney General Bill Barr, who served in that role under President George H. W. Bush and during Trump's first presidency, has said in an endorsement that Blanche "will run the department as effectively as anyone could under President Trump.""Some have called that faint praise. I don't think that it is. I think it is a reality," Cassidy said.(This story has been updated with additional information.)
