Cassidy will support Blanche, sealing confirmation to head Justice Department

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) announced Friday morning he will support Todd Blanche’s nomination to serve as attorney general, all but ensuring the controversial nominee will have the votes he needs to be confirmed.  

“All considered, I will vote for Mr. Blanche,” Cassidy announced.

Cassidy was the last Republican senator to remain undecided on Blanche, keeping his colleagues in suspense for days about how he would vote.

On Friday, he revealed that answer to be yes, despite concerns he raised in recent weeks about Blanche’s willingness to serve as an effective check on Trump after previously serving as his personal defense attorney.

Cassidy’s support paves the way for Senate Republicans to advance his nomination Friday or over the weekend after they finish voting on a Russia sanctions bill, a stopgap measure to fund the government and a bipartisan bill to reform the rules for compensating college athletes.

The Louisiana senator announced his yes vote after two other centrist Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), announced they would oppose Blanche.

Collins and Murkowski voiced serious concerns about his ability to preserve the political independence of the Justice Department.  

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) needed Cassidy’s vote to advance Blanche because Sen. Mitch McConnell........

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