Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced he will support Todd Blanche's nomination for U.S. attorney general — and critics immediately hammered him as a "coward."
The Louisiana Republican announced ahead of time that he would reveal his decision from the Senate floor, where he gave a speech Friday morning outlining his concerns about President Donald Trump's former criminal defense attorney serving as the nation's top law enforcement official, but ultimately Cassidy said he would cast the deciding vote to confirm.
His was the deciding vote that could have tanked Blanche's nomination.
“Mr. Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this,” Cassidy said.
However, he argued the choice was between Blanche and a different acting attorney general who might not run the Department of Justice as effectively.
“All considered, I will vote for Mr. Blanche,” Cassidy said. “I’ll be criticized for this vote. What’s new?”
And criticized he was.
"Coward," jeered former GOP congressman Joe Walsh.
"This is the only reason Susan Collins voted no," sighed "Friendly Atheist" blogger Hemant Mehta. "She knew her vote wouldn’t make a difference. Vote out every single Republican."
"Cassidy is a yes on the Epstein coverup," noted TV writer Erica Wernick.
"The spineless man who gave the country RFK Jr. will now give the country Todd Blanche," noted SNY's Danny Abriano.
"Just a despicable human being."
"Esteemed Senator wept tears of pure loyalty as he pledged unwavering support for the Dear Leader’s brilliant choice of AG," mocked Army veteran Bruce Crossing.
"One of the catch phrases on the modern right is 'humiliation ritual,'" observed The Bulwark's Sonny Bunch. "I can see why they’ve glommed on to it."
"Bill Cassidy, Epstein Caucus member," sneered Gabe Ortíz, of America's Voice.
"Prior to his speech, neither Cassidy nor his staff met with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, despite their repeated entreaties," reported MS NOW's Lisa Rubin. "Notwithstanding that, Cassidy said during his floor speech that among the reasons to support Blanche was that leaving him as an acting AG without Senate confirmation could risk DOJ's progress on . . . human trafficking. Let that sink in."
"Voting to confirm Todd Blanche invalidates your vote to release the Epstein files," spat the Patriot Takes account.
"So Bill Cassidy hates vaccines but loves the Epstein cover-up," marveled Democratic strategist Adam Parkhomenko. "Cool guy."
"Oh noes, not criticism!" cried out popular Bluesky user S. Grisham. "As women bleed out from pregnancy and childbirth complications. As Epstein, Trump, J6 scum, and crypto fraudsters go unpunished for their crimes. As the rule of law in America dies. 'First, do no harm.' Cassidy is a weak, cowardly, unprincipled excuse for a man."