Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced on Friday that she will vote against the confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general. Her opposition creates a significant hurdle for President Trump’s nominee, as the administration seeks to secure leadership for the Department of Justice.
In a social media statement, Murkowski expressed concern that the administration might still move forward with a proposed fund intended to compensate individuals involved in the January 6 riots, despite a formal order from Blanche terminating the initiative. The senator argued that the Senate currently maintains leverage over the potential fund only because Blanche’s nomination remains pending. She warned that this oversight authority would vanish once he is confirmed.
Blanche previously secured a 12-10 vote from the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week, largely by assuring Republican holdouts that he would not pursue the controversial payout fund. Following extensive negotiations, he issued an order on Sunday evening confirming that there is no such fund. However, Democratic lawmakers contend that this administrative order is insufficient to prevent the Trump administration from reviving the fund after his confirmation, and they have pushed for legislation to permanently prohibit it.
The path to confirmation remains narrow for Blanche. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, but with Senator Mitch McConnell absent due to hospitalization, Blanche can afford only two Republican defections if all Democrats vote against him. Senator Susan Collins of Maine has already declared her opposition, while Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana announced his support for Blanche on Friday, likely providing the necessary margin for approval.
The Judiciary Committee vote followed a separate deal between Blanche and GOP Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. Those senators had threatened to block his nomination over the settlement of a lawsuit involving President Trump and the Internal Revenue Service regarding the president’s leaked tax returns. They ultimately supported Blanche after the Justice Department provided written confirmation that it would not proceed with a $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate Trump allies who claimed they were unfairly investigated or prosecuted.
President Trump addressed the opposition in an interview with Punchbowl, stating he is against Murkowski and claiming he has done more for Alaska than any president in history. He further remarked that his base would be unhappy if he supported someone like Murkowski, who previously voted to impeach him. Even if Blanche fails to secure Senate confirmation, he is permitted to remain in his role as acting attorney general indefinitely.
Source: CBS News
