President Donald Trump could be facing another setback in the Senate as Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) says he has not yet decided whether he will support Todd Blanche’s nomination to become the next U.S. attorney general.
Cassidy’s comments come as Republicans work to secure enough votes to confirm Blanche, who currently serves as acting attorney general after previously representing Trump as his personal attorney. With the confirmation vote approaching, every Republican vote has become increasingly important.
During an interview on SiriusXM’s The Briefing with Steve Scully, Cassidy said his decision will depend on whether Blanche can demonstrate that he would serve the American people independently rather than acting as President Trump’s former personal lawyer.
“I’ve not made a decision regarding Mr. Blanche,” Cassidy said.
The Louisiana Republican explained that he wants confidence Blanche would separate his previous legal work for Trump from his responsibilities as attorney general.
Cassidy said he needs assurance that Blanche would serve first and foremost as the nation’s attorney general, rather than acting primarily as President Trump’s former personal lawyer in a new role. He emphasized that, in his view, there is a clear distinction between the two responsibilities.
Cassidy also voiced concerns about what he described as the growing use of “lawfare” in American politics. He said he believes the Justice Department should never prosecute Americans for political reasons.
“I’m very concerned about so-called lawfare,” Cassidy said. “People should never be prosecuted simply because someone in a position of authority is angry with them. Those concerns will absolutely factor into my decision.”
When asked what could change his mind before the Senate vote, Cassidy said he intends to continue reviewing information and speaking with those involved before reaching a final conclusion.
“I’ll continue to look at it and speak to the parties involved,” Cassidy said. “There will eventually be a deadline, and I’ll make my decision before then.”
Cassidy’s undecided position comes just one day after Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced she would oppose Blanche’s confirmation, creating another hurdle for Trump’s nominee.
With Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) absent, Republicans have very little room for additional defections. That has placed renewed attention on Cassidy and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), both of whom are widely viewed as key swing votes that could determine whether Blanche is confirmed.
The situation also carries added political significance because Trump and Cassidy have a strained relationship. Earlier this election cycle, Trump endorsed Cassidy’s Republican primary challenger. That challenger went on to defeat Cassidy, effectively ending the senator’s congressional career after his current term.
As the confirmation vote draws closer, Republicans will be watching carefully to see whether Cassidy ultimately backs President Trump’s nominee or joins Collins in opposing the nomination. His decision could prove decisive in determining who will lead the Justice Department during Trump’s second administration.