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Bill Cassidy Says He'll Support Todd Blanche For Attorney General

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WASHINGTON — Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) announced Friday that he will vote to confirm Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general, giving him the final vote he needs to be confirmed.

"This is not a referendum on President Trump. It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances," Cassidy said on the Senate floor. "All things considered, I will vote for Mr. Blanche."

"I'll be criticized for this vote. What's new," he said.

Cassidy was the last Republican publicly wavering on whether to support Blanche, and the vote that would decide his fate. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced earlier Friday that she won't vote to confirm him, days after Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she was a "no" vote, too.

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The reality is nothing much changes at the Justice Department even if Blanche is confirmed. He is currently the acting attorney general, and because he was previously confirmed as deputy attorney general, Blanche could have carried on as the acting attorney general for the rest of Trump's presidency.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.