US Sen Bill Cassidy says he will cast decisive vote for Trump’s pick for attorney general

WASHINGTON — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared ready to win U.S. Senate approval to take the role permanently after Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said Friday morning he would vote for the confirmation.

Cassidy, who has long clashed with Trump, said his vote was not a reflection of that relationship, but about the importance of having a Senate-confirmed attorney general who had the backing of U.S. attorneys in Louisiana and former Attorney General Bill Barr.

“Mr. Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this, but the choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche,” he said. “It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump… All considered, I will vote for Mr. Blanche.”

Cassidy held the determinative vote on Blanche following Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s announcement earlier Friday she would oppose his confirmation. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, another key Republican vote, said earlier this week she would vote against confirmation. 

Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell has been absent from the chamber for months, recovering from a health issue.

No Democrats are expected to support Blanche, who was Trump’s personal defense attorney before joining the government at the start of Trump’s second term.