Sen. Bill Cassidy Backs Todd Blanche's Nomination, Paving the Way for His Confirmation

When former Attorney General Bill Barr endorsed Mr. Blanch, he said Mr. Blanch will run the department as effectively as anyone can under President Trump. Some have called that faint praise. I don't think that it is. I think it is a reality. Barr specifically addressed the allegation that Mr. Blanch would be a yes-man for the president. He said that any attorney to represent a client well has to have tough conversations and confront a client with difficult truths. That because of his previous attorney-client relationship with President Trump, Mr. Blanch would be precisely the person to push back on President Trump. But that ultimately, and here Barr echoed what I heard from Blanch, decisions are made by the president. Mr. Blanch is not perfect and he will tell you this, but the choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanch. It is between Mr. Blanch and another acting Attorney General who may not run the department effectively under President Trump and who indeed may not be as good as Mr. Blanch. This puts at risk the progress made fighting violent crime, human and drug trafficking, and fraud, and this does not serve the American people well. This is not a referendum on President Trump. It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanch in very specific circumstances. All considered, I will vote for Mr. Blanch. I'll be criticized for this vote, what's new, but the people of Louisiana can be assured that I worked hard to understand the issue and to make the right decision. With that, I yield.