Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Friday she will vote against Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general, becoming the second Republican to break with President Trump on the nomination and pushing the vote to the edge of failure.
The Alaska Republican joins Sen. Susan Collins of Maine in opposing Blanche, who has served as acting attorney general. Murkowski cited the Justice Department’s handling of files tied to Jeffrey Epstein, a sweeping tax audit immunity deal covering Trump and his family, and a proposed $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate Trump allies who say they were unfairly investigated.
“The country needs an Attorney General who will check the worst impulses of this administration,” Murkowski said. “I hope Mr. Blanche is able to achieve that, if confirmed, but I simply do not have confidence that will be the case.”
Murkowski said she remains concerned the administration could revive the compensation fund once Blanche is confirmed, even though he formally rescinded it as part of a deal with Senate Republicans.
“I am also keenly aware that the Department’s nearly $2-billion dollar slush fund, which likely would have rewarded January 6 protesters, is only off the table because this nomination is pending and the Senate has leverage,” she said. “Once we vote, that will end, and there is no telling what the future holds.”
Collins announced her opposition earlier in the week, calling Blanche “a capable lawyer” but saying the Justice Department under his leadership has “become increasingly political.” She pointed to his role approving the tax immunity deal and the compensation fund, along with his pledge to an anti-abortion group to seek a nationwide ban on mailing abortion medication.
With Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky absent from the Senate while recovering from a fall last month, Senate Majority Leader John Thune can afford to lose only one more Republican vote and still confirm Blanche. All 47 members of the Senate Democratic Conference are expected to vote no.
Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana remains undecided. Cassidy met with Blanche in the Capitol earlier this week and huddled with staff Thursday but has not said how he will vote.
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Blanche’s nomination last weekend only after Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina reached a deal with the administration. Cornyn and Tillis had threatened to block the nomination over the settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS regarding his leaked tax returns. Blanche rescinded the compensation fund in writing, stating “beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund,” and the Justice Department clarified that the tax immunity agreement applies only to Trump, two of his sons, and the Trump Organization, and only to claims open at the time of the settlement.
