Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, has gained the support of Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, likely paving the way for his confirmation. Cassidy announced his support on the Senate floor, citing Blanche’s experience as a federal prosecutor and his ability to push back on the president’s demands.

Confirmation Complications

Blanche’s path to confirmation has been complicated by concerns over a settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. The settlement included a $1.8 billion fund to compensate people who feel mistreated by the criminal justice system and provided Trump and family members with immunity from tax audits.

Some Republican senators, including Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, have expressed opposition to Blanche’s nomination due to these concerns. However, Cassidy’s support may be enough to secure Blanche’s confirmation.

Democratic Opposition

Democrats have accused Blanche of prioritizing his loyalty to Trump above all else, citing investigations targeting Trump’s foes and a radical reshaping of the Justice Department. Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said it would be a ‘serious mistake’ to confirm Blanche.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.