Cassidy supports Todd Blanche, rescuing Trump's embattled attorney general pick

Senator Bill Cassidy, representing Louisiana, announced his vote to confirm Todd Blanche as the attorney general on Friday. This support comes after two other Republican senators, Susan Collins from Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, expressed their opposition to Blanche's confirmation. Cassidy is now believed to hold the key vote, assuming no other Republicans change their stance.

Two senators, Mitch McConnell from Kentucky and Senator John Cornyn from Texas, alongside Thom Tillis from North Carolina, have already shown their support for Blanche. Blanche, who was previously President Donald Trump's personal attorney and currently serves as the acting attorney general, faced criticism from several Republicans due to his management of the Justice Department.

Collins raised concerns over the politicization of the department and its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein matter. Blanche addressed these concerns by assuring senators that the controversial $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, established as part of a settlement in Trump's tax records leak lawsuit, had been rescinded. Additionally, he clarified the scope of an agreement that protected Trump and his family from specific tax audits.