Key facts
- Senator Bill Cassidy cast the deciding vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general.
- Cassidy stated his vote was not a simple 'black-and-white' decision.
- A deal was reached with Sen. John Cornyn to nullify a payout fund for Trump allies.
- Cassidy was concerned that Blanche was protecting Trump and his family from IRS probes.
- Cassidy believes the anti-weaponization fund is effectively dead.
Senator Bill Cassidy explained that his pivotal vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general was a complex decision, not a straightforward 'black-and-white' choice. Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana, revealed that his vote was ultimately swayed by a deal brokered by Senator John Cornyn to nullify a proposed payout fund intended for Trump allies, including individuals pardoned by President Trump for their involvement in the January 6th events.
Cassidy stated on CBS's "Face the Nation" that the anti-weaponization fund, if contextualized within the current political and judicial environment, would require extensive legal processes to reinstate, rendering it "effectively dead." He also noted that Senator Cornyn's comfort with the deal was a significant factor in his decision.
Despite his eventual support, Cassidy admitted that he nearly voted against Blanche due to concerns over the nominee's continued protection of Trump and his family from IRS investigations. He emphasized that while no American should be targeted by the law, no American should be above it, a principle that almost led him to vote 'No.'
Blanche was confirmed by a narrow 50-49 vote, with Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski being the only Republicans to vote against him. Mother Jones reported that Cassidy's capitulation came shortly after Murkowski announced her opposition, and that Cassidy had previously expressed concerns about the slush fund, exemption from IRS audits, and suits against political enemies. The report also noted Cassidy's past votes on controversial nominations, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Erica Schwartz, where he cited assurances from the nominees.
Following the confirmation, Blanche thanked Trump, the Senate, and Justice Department staff. President Trump, however, reportedly threatened Senator Murkowski, labeling her a "traitor" for her dissenting vote.