Cassidy backs Blanche for attorney general, clearing way for confirmation

Washington — Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana announced Friday that he will support Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general, clearing the way for him to lead the Justice Department in a permanent capacity.

"Mr. Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this, but the choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche," Cassidy said in remarks on the Senate floor announcing his support. "It is between Mr. Blanche 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. Blanche."

With Cassidy's backing, Blanche is expected to clinch his confirmation for attorney general, though by a narrow margin. While Republicans control the Senate, Blanche could only afford to lose the votes of two GOP senators and still win approval for the role of the nation's top law enforcement official given Sen. Mitch McConnell's absence. 

Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska had already announced their plans to oppose Blanche's nomination, making Cassidy the decisive vote. All Democrats are expected to vote against Blanche for attorney general.

The Senate is planning to hold votes on a number of GOP priorities Friday before leaving Washington for a five-week recess. It's unclear whether the chamber will vote on Blanche's confirmation as part of that sprint, since speeding up the process would require consent from Democrats.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.