Legal analysts and career officials at the Department of Justice sharply criticized Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on Friday after he announced his support for President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Justice Department, Todd Blanche.

Cassidy declared his backing for Blanche during an emotional floor speech. The reaction from inside and around the department underscored how closely the confirmation fight is being watched by DOJ employees, who would be working under Blanche if he is confirmed. According to MS NOW reporter Ken Dilanian, Justice Department insiders were blindsided by several of Cassidy's characterizations — particularly his claim that morale at the department was high.

"Look, what I can tell you is that at the Justice Department, there are some very strong conversations going on about how bad morale is," Dilanian said. "I had a text from a source over there who said that they could not believe that Senator Cassidy described morale as high at the Justice Department. The person said, 'What is he smoking?' Because career employees at the Department of Justice are beside themselves with the direction that Todd Blanche has taken the department."

Other DOJ employees described feeling "perplexed" by some of the decisions Blanche has made. Dilanian reported that career staff are "very depressed about what the road forward looks like."

"We're only a year and a half into this term. Thousands and thousands of Justice Department employees have been driven out or have left or have retired, both at the FBI and at the DOJ. And there's a lot of road left to travel here along this path that Donald Trump wants to take the Justice Department," Dilanian added.

Former litigator Lisa Rubin, now a legal correspondent for MS NOW, wrote on X: "Prior to his speech, neither Cassidy nor his staff met with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, despite their repeated entreaties. 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." (https://x.com/lawofruby/status/2085742911883284827)

Quinn Yeargain, professor of law and democracy at Michigan State University, commented: "Illuminating to know he's totally good with all of this, has been totally un-serious about any qualms he has, and views his critics with contempt. Thanks for the clarity!" ()

National security lawyer Bradley Moss, also watching the speech, wrote: "He is going to cave. I can see it." Moments later he added: "He is totally caving." ()

Democratic attorney Dave Barr called it "peak pathetic" and urged Cassidy to "have some self-respect." (https://x.com/DaveBarr22/status/2085742991658954842)

Quinta Jurecic, a law and democracy writer for The Atlantic, responded to Cassidy's suggestion that he would face criticism regardless of his decision. "People are criticizing me unfairly, such as for my actions and their inevitable consequences," she wrote on BlueSky. ()

Dilanian noted that if Blanche were to break promises made to the senators who agreed to support him, "they'll have no leverage." He observed that Republican Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Cassidy, and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) appear to have "viewed Todd Blanche as the least of a series of bad options. That's where we are as a country right now."

Lawyer Benjamin Kabak offered a blunt assessment of Cassidy: "A loser to the bitter end." ()

Source: https://youtu.be/AMQxqoNgVrM