{"id":29453,"date":"2026-08-06T05:36:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T00:36:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=29453"},"modified":"2026-08-06T05:36:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T00:36:37","slug":"blanche-meets-with-2-key-republican-senators-ahead-of-confirmation-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=29453","title":{"rendered":"Blanche meets with 2 key Republican senators ahead of confirmation vote"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" data-testid=\"prism-article-body\">\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC \">Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy and Lisa Murkowski met on Capitol Hill Wednesday afternoon with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as they weigh whether to support Blanche\u2019s nomination to serve as attorney general, sources told ABC News.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Republican Sen. Susan Collins said Tuesday <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/senate-judiciary-committee-advances-todd-blanches-nomination-attorney\/story?id=135353842\" dir=\"ltr\">she would vote against Blanche\u2019s nomination<\/a> when it reaches the Senate floor, possibly by the end of the week. With GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell\u2019s absence and Democrats voting against him, a \u201cno\u201d vote from either Cassidy or Murkowski would sink Blanche\u2019s nomination.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Cassidy has said he\u2019s worried about the \u201clawfare\u201d at the Department of Justice, referencing those who have been prosecuted because \u201csomebody in high office is angry at them,\u201d presumably referring to President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO fnRUo pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW RMeqy daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc MENS nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY rPLsU iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM IEgzD OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD VWDdR ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV GPGwb oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX \">\n<div>\n<div class=\"InlineImage GpQCA lZur asrEW \" data-testid=\"prism-inline-image\">\n<figure class=\"kzIjN GNmeK pYrtp dSqFO \" data-testid=\"prism-figure\">\n<div class=\"GpQCA lZur gIjeL \" data-testid=\"prism-ratio-frame\">\n<div class=\"FvQLF iLTd NqeUA UzzHi iWsMV \"><picture data-testid=\"prism-picture\"><source media=\"(max-width: 414px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/c5fd0966-65d8-4a03-aa2e-88996efe8290\/todd-blanche-gty-jt-260805_1785967869594_hpMain.jpg?w=375, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/c5fd0966-65d8-4a03-aa2e-88996efe8290\/todd-blanche-gty-jt-260805_1785967869594_hpMain.jpg?w=750 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 415px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/c5fd0966-65d8-4a03-aa2e-88996efe8290\/todd-blanche-gty-jt-260805_1785967869594_hpMain.jpg?w=750, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/c5fd0966-65d8-4a03-aa2e-88996efe8290\/todd-blanche-gty-jt-260805_1785967869594_hpMain.jpg?w=1500 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI \" data-testid=\"prism-image\" draggable=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/c5fd0966-65d8-4a03-aa2e-88996efe8290\/todd-blanche-gty-jt-260805_1785967869594_hpMain.jpg\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>\n<div class=\"nMMea bNYiy Mjgpa dGwha DDmxa jgKNG RGHCC aBIU PriDW aiQHS lZur \" data-testid=\"prism-caption\">\n<p><span class=\"hsDdd OOSI GpQCA lZur VlFaz \" data-testid=\"prism-truncate\"><span><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche leaves after a meeting with Sen. Bill Cassidy and Sen. Lisa Murkowski at the U.S. Capitol on Aug. 5, 2026, in Washington, D.C.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ YNujN JGtjI aZFDu rkKLh \">Alex Wong\/Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Cassidy also wants assurances that<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->Blanche<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->doesn\u2019t just view himself at a lawyer for President Trump.<!-- -->\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;I&#8217;ve got to be convinced that he is an attorney general who just happens to have once been President Trump&#8217;s personal attorney, as opposed to President Trump&#8217;s personal attorney who is now the attorney general,\u201d he told SiriusXM Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Murkowski, who has been noncommittal about whether she will support<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->Blanche, said Wednesday she hasn&#8217;t made up her mind on<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->Blanche.<!-- -->\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Asked going into the meeting if she supported Blanche, Murkowski said, \u201cI have chosen not to comment on Mr.<!-- -->\u00a0<!-- -->Blanche\u2019s nomination today. There will be news forthcoming but until such time we\u2019re not commenting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The Senate Judiciary Committee voted by a 12-10 party line vote Tuesday to advance Blanche&#8217;s nomination for a vote by the full Senate later this week.<\/p>\n<div class=\"oLzSq QrHMO fnRUo pvsTF EhJPu vPlOC zNYgW OsTsW RMeqy daRVX ISNQ sKyCY eRftA acPPc MENS nFwaT MCnQE mEeeY SmBjI xegrY rPLsU iulOd NIuqO zzscu lzDCc aHUBM IEgzD OjMNy eQqcx SVqKB GQmdz jaoD VWDdR ONJdw vrZxD OnRTz gbbfF roDbV GPGwb oMlSS gfNzt oJhud eXZcf zhVlX \">\n<div>\n<div class=\"InlineImage GpQCA lZur asrEW \" data-testid=\"prism-inline-image\">\n<figure class=\"kzIjN GNmeK pYrtp dSqFO \" data-testid=\"prism-figure\">\n<div class=\"GpQCA lZur gIjeL \" data-testid=\"prism-ratio-frame\">\n<div class=\"FvQLF iLTd NqeUA UzzHi iWsMV \"><picture data-testid=\"prism-picture\"><source media=\"(max-width: 414px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/ba396bbb-ca14-43b8-a706-632699e74735\/Murkowski-gty-gmh-260805_1785963120187_hpMain.jpg?w=375, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/ba396bbb-ca14-43b8-a706-632699e74735\/Murkowski-gty-gmh-260805_1785963120187_hpMain.jpg?w=750 2x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 415px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/ba396bbb-ca14-43b8-a706-632699e74735\/Murkowski-gty-gmh-260805_1785963120187_hpMain.jpg?w=750, https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/ba396bbb-ca14-43b8-a706-632699e74735\/Murkowski-gty-gmh-260805_1785963120187_hpMain.jpg?w=1500 2x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR SjwtZ hakZw HlUVI \" data-testid=\"prism-image\" draggable=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/ba396bbb-ca14-43b8-a706-632699e74735\/Murkowski-gty-gmh-260805_1785963120187_hpMain.jpg\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>\n<div class=\"nMMea bNYiy Mjgpa dGwha DDmxa jgKNG RGHCC aBIU PriDW aiQHS lZur \" data-testid=\"prism-caption\">\n<p><span class=\"hsDdd OOSI GpQCA lZur VlFaz \" data-testid=\"prism-truncate\"><span><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ \">Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks to reporters during a vote in the U.S. Capitol Building, August 5, 2026 in Washington.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"gtOSm FbbUW tUtYa vOCwz EQwFq yCufu eEak Qmvg nyTIa SRXVc vzLa jgBfc WXDas CiUCW kqbG zrdEG txGfn ygKVe BbezD UOtxr CVfpq xijV soGRS XgdC sEIlf daWqJ YNujN JGtjI aZFDu rkKLh \">Anna Moneymaker\/Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who had said they wouldn\u2019t vote to confirm Blanche over concerns over President Donald Trump&#8217;s IRS immunity deal and the administration&#8217;s so-called $1.8 billion &#8220;Anti-Weaponization Fund,&#8221; voted to advance Blanche out of the committee and to a vote on the Senate floor after they said <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/blanche-rescinds-trumps-anti-weaponization-fund-amid-ag\/story?id=135315931\" dir=\"ltr\">they were satisfied with an agreement<\/a> reached with Blanche.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Despite the fact that the agreement reached has no language preventing the resurrection of the controversial fund under a different name or method, Cornyn said the DOJ has been &#8220;consistent&#8221; about its assertions that the fund is dead.<!-- -->\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC eTIW sUzSN \">&#8220;And of course, I expect them to live up to that in any future litigation,&#8221; Cornyn said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy and Lisa Murkowski met on Capitol Hill Wednesday afternoon with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as they weigh whether to support Blanche\u2019s nomination to serve as attorney general, sources told ABC News. Republican Sen. Susan Collins said Tuesday she would vote against Blanche\u2019s nomination when it reaches the Senate floor, possibly&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29454,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/41cef97d-4c95-4183-9467-6f994fa1c779\/blanche-rt-jt-260805_1785967667907_hpMain_16x9.jpg?w=1600","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abc-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29453"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29453\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}