NewzBill Cassidy said Friday he'll back Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general, likely paving the way for Blanche to be confirmed to lead President Donald Trump’s Justice Department.Blanche’s prospective confirmation appeared threatened earlier Friday, when Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced her opposition. Murkowski cited concern that the administration could proceed with a $1.8 billion fund to compensate Trump allies, despite Blanche formally terminating it.Also, an appeals court has ruled Trump must seek approval from Congress to build his proposed White House ballroom, saying construction must stop.
Court of Appeals sided with historic preservationists who sued to stop construction. The court said it would stay its own ruling for two weeks to allow the administration to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.Here's the latest:Cassidy acknowledges political tightrope on Blanche voteThe senator nodded to the realities of being a Republican who doesn’t reflexively align with Trump.“Mr.
Blanche has become a referendum on how people feel about President Trump,” he said. Blanche.” He added, with emotion, “I’ll be criticized for this vote, but what’s new.”Cassidy criticized Blanche for initially approving a $1.8 billion fund to compensate Jan. 6 rioters, among others, and for endorsing a tax immunity deal for Trump.“Mr.
Blanche is not perfect,” Cassidy said, before arguing essentially that Blanche is likely better than anyone else Trump could nominate.Cassidy didn’t acknowledge Trump’s saying in an interview released Friday that he’d keep Blanche as acting attorney general if the Senate rejected him.In either instance — Blanche’s confirmation or continuing as acting chief — the president could fire him at any point, a legal reality Cassidy glossed over in his stated reasoning.The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued over the ballroom project in DecemberThat came a week after the White House finished demolishing the East Wing to make way for a ballroom Trump said would fit 999 people.Government lawyers have argued that the project — the biggest structural change to the White House in more than 70 years — includes critical security features to guard against a range of threats, such as drones, ballistic missiles and biohazards.“These upgrades, alterations, and improvements are essential to pro… Bill Cassidy, a Republican, announced he will vote to confirm Todd Blanche for attorney general. Cassidy says he’ll support Todd Blanche for attorney general, likely paving the way for confirmation.
Bill Cassidy of Louisiana says he'll vote for Todd Blanche as attorney general, likely paving the way for him to be confirmed to lead President Donald Trump's Justice Department.
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