Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced Friday that she will oppose the nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for a full term, dealing a blow to his confirmation effort.
Murkowski said that while she found Blanche to be “decent and capable” after several meetings, she lacks confidence that he would serve as an independent check on the Trump administration.
“Ultimately, however, I will oppose his nomination,” Murkowski said in a statement. “The politicization—even weaponization—of the Department did not start with this administration but has accelerated during it.”
She pointed to several concerns, including the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, sweeping immunity protections for President Donald Trump, his family and businesses, statements made to anti-abortion groups, and what she described as the department’s repeated targeting of political opponents.
Murkowski also cited the Justice Department’s now-scrapped “anti-weaponization” fund, which she said could have benefited Jan. 6 defendants, and the administration’s May settlement shielding Trump and his family from IRS tax audits.
“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.”
Despite her opposition, Murkowski praised Blanche’s outreach to Alaska.
“I have had numerous constructive meetings with Mr. Blanche and he comes across as decent and capable,” she said. “I appreciate the trip he made to learn more about Alaska, including our rural areas, and as Acting Attorney General he has made several noteworthy decisions that will benefit our state and the nation.”
Earlier this week, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said she would oppose Blanche’s nomination, meaning Republicans could afford only one additional “no” vote on the Senate floor, given Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) absence. Murkowski’s decision to oppose Blanche will likely delay the confirmation vote until after the Senate’s August recess.
Blanche, who was previously Trump’s personal attorney, was confirmed earlier this year as deputy attorney general before becoming acting attorney general following Pam Bondi’s ousting in April.
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Blanche’s nomination on Monday after contentious negotiations with Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), who originally opposed Blanche.
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Trump explicitly opposed Murkowski in comments made before she announced her decision.
“I’m against Murkowski,” Trump told Punchbowl News. “I do more for Alaska than any president in history. No president’s done for Alaska what I’ve done. She’s not good.”