Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Republican Senators Bill Cassidy and Lisa Murkowski on Capitol Hill Wednesday afternoon, as their support is critical for his confirmation to serve as Attorney General. The meetings come as Republican Senator Susan Collins announced Tuesday she would vote against Blanche’s nomination, potentially jeopardizing his path forward.

Blanche's nomination faces a tight vote in the Senate, where he can afford to lose only one Republican vote for confirmation. With the absence of Senator Mitch McConnell and expected opposition from all Democrats, a "no" vote from either Cassidy or Murkowski would defeat his nomination.

Senator Cassidy expressed concerns regarding "lawfare" at the Department of Justice, specifically mentioning prosecutions stemming from perceived anger from "somebody in high office." He also seeks assurances that Blanche will serve as Attorney General for the nation, rather than solely as a lawyer for President Trump. "I've got to be convinced that he is an attorney general who just happens to have once been President Trump's personal attorney, as opposed to President Trump's personal attorney who is now the attorney general," Cassidy stated.

Senator Murkowski remained noncommittal following her meeting with Blanche, indicating she had not yet made a decision. "There will be news forthcoming but until such time we’re not commenting," she told reporters.

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Blanche's nomination to the full Senate on Tuesday with a narrow 12-10 party-line vote. Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who had previously voiced opposition related to President Trump's IRS immunity deal and the "Anti-Weaponization Fund," voted to advance the nomination after reaching an agreement with Blanche.

Cornyn indicated that the Department of Justice has consistently asserted the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" is defunct and expects this stance to hold in future legal challenges, despite the agreement lacking explicit language preventing its revival under a different name.

Blanche, currently serving as Acting U.S. Attorney General, previously represented President Trump. His nomination is seen by some as a move to solidify loyalty within the Justice Department, while others express concern over potential conflicts of interest and the politicization of law enforcement.

The confirmation vote is expected later this week, with the outcome hinging on the decisions of a small number of Republican senators.