U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy recently expressed his dissatisfaction with special IRS protections for former President Donald Trump and his family, describing them as “totally wrong.” This issue nearly led him to vote against confirming Todd Blanche as attorney general.
Despite these concerns, Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, eventually supported Blanche after a thorough review. He shared his internal conflict on CBS News’ Face the Nation, where he acknowledged that he “almost weighed to vote no,” emphasizing how close he came to rejecting the nominee.
Blanche’s confirmation was tightly contested, culminating in a 50-49 Senate vote. With Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky absent due to medical recovery, Cassidy’s vote was critical in breaking the stalemate.
“I am realistic that President Trump can be unrelenting,” Cassidy remarked, emphasizing that a Senate-confirmed attorney general would have more leverage than an acting official. He added, “I’ll be criticized for this vote, but the people of Louisiana can be assured that I worked hard to understand the issue.” This suggests Cassidy’s dedication to making an informed decision.
His concerns centered around provisions limiting IRS scrutiny of Trump entities, which he deemed unfair. “No American should be targeted by the law, but no American should be above the law,” Cassidy said.
The senator’s remarks provided insight into the internal debates of a GOP senator who publicly questioned a prominent Trump-backed nominee before aligning with party lines.
Cassidy’s votes were particularly significant given his loss to a Trump-endorsed challenger in his primary. While some Democrats argued that Blanche’s proposed changes were ineffective, Cassidy ultimately prioritized other factors over his reservations.
The only Republicans voting “no” were Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins. Blanche had been the acting attorney general before this confirmation, following Pam Bondi’s removal.
Concessions and Support
During the nomination process, Blanche addressed congressional concerns by rescinding the “anti-weaponization fund” order and issued a statement limiting IRS protections for Trump entities.
Despite his reservation over tax provisions, Cassidy noted positive input from Louisiana federal prosecutors regarding Blanche’s potential as attorney general. U.S. attorneys praised Blanche for improving accountability, focusing on key issues like violent crime, trafficking, and healthcare fraud.
“There’s a lot of positive things to say about Todd Blanche,” Cassidy mentioned, underlining the importance of steady leadership at the Justice Department.
CBS host Margaret Brennan asked if Cassidy trusted Blanche to uphold the Constitution, to which he replied, “I cannot predict the future, and this is not a black or white decision. But I’m confident on that.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “Todd Blanche’s confirmation is a huge win for President Trump and our country” and predicted Blanche would be an exemplary attorney general.
The Anti-Weaponization Fund
The confirmation process faced obstacles due to the controversial “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” This program, valued at approximately $1.8 billion, arose from a lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS and Treasury Department. It aimed to compensate those alleging political targeting.
The proposal received pushback from both sides of the aisle, raising concerns it might benefit Trump supporters, including January 6 Capitol riot participants. Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis threatened to block Blanche’s nomination unless the fund was canceled. In response, Blanche rescinded the fund, stating it had “no force or effect” and confirming no funds had been allocated or claims initiated.