Senator Bill Cassidy said he would support Todd Blanche’s nomination as US attorney general, providing a crucial Republican vote and making Blanche’s confirmation highly likely. The decision matters because Blanche, President Trump’s former personal lawyer and current acting attorney general, would gain full authority to lead the Justice Department despite concerns about his independence.

Cassidy acknowledged reservations about Blanche, including a proposed $1.8 billion fund for Trump allies, protections relating to tax audits and investigations of political opponents. With Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski opposed, Cassidy’s support was decisive in the narrowly divided Senate; he argued that Blanche could be better placed than another nominee to resist improper presidential demands.