Blanche’s Nomination in Peril After Murkowski Says She’s a ‘No’

Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced Friday she will vote against Todd Blanche’s nomination to become attorney general, further imperiling his nomination ahead of a vote on the Senate floor.

Blanche’s confirmation now hinges on Sen. Bill Cassidy (R–Louisiana), the outgoing lawmaker who has previously signaled his willingness to go against President Donald Trump’s agenda. Sen. Susan Collins (R–Maine) said this week she will also vote no.

Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, wrote Friday she appreciated the decisions Blanche made in his capacity as acting attorney general to benefit Alaska. Ultimately, Murkowski added, her decision stemmed from the recent controversies surrounding the Justice Department, including Blanche’s handling of a legal settlement between Trump and the IRS that would have shielded the president and his businesses from agency audits.

“The politicization—even weaponization—of the Department did not start with this administration but has accelerated during it,” Murkowski continued. “I take issue with the handling of the release of the Epstein files; the sweeping immunity protections granted to the President, his family, and their businesses; the statements that have been made to anti-abortion groups; and the repeated targeting of individuals ranging from former administration staff to sitting U.S. Senators.”

Blanche’s nomination advanced to a full Senate vote after he reached a deal with Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) to nix Trump’s “anti-weaponization fund,” a $1.8 billion pool of money set aside to compensate allies of the president who were investigated and in some cases convicted by the federal government, and limit the scope of Trump’s IRS audit immunity deal. Despite Blanche’s written assurances, questions still arose about the enforceability of his order and his commitment to upholding it after he is confirmed.

Murkowski alluded to the concerns on Friday, noting that the fund appeared to be “off the table because this nomination is pending and the Senate has leverage.”

“The country needs an Attorney General who will check the worst impulses of this administration,” she said. “I hope Mr. Blanche is able to achieve that, if confirmed, but I simply do not have confidence that will be the case.”