Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski announced Friday that she will vote against President Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee, Todd Blanche. Though Murkowski acknowledged meeting with Blanche and finding him to be “decent and capable,” she determined his nomination did not merit her support. Her opposition marks a significant development in the confirmation process for the former presidential lawyer.
Murkowski’s stance follows a similar announcement from Republican Senator Susan Collins earlier in the week, who also pledged to oppose Blanche’s confirmation. With Senate Republican leadership facing temporary unavailability, the administration has limited flexibility in securing votes. Blanche can now afford only one additional Republican defection and still advance to confirmation, substantially narrowing his path forward.
To shore up support, Blanche has made written commitments to key Republican senators regarding controversial elements tied to Trump’s settlement with the IRS. He pledged that a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund would not be revived and that a related tax arrangement would apply exclusively to prior tax filings. These assurances convinced Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis to back his nomination, though questions persist about the fund’s potential resurrection and the implications of the tax deal.
Originally reported by Theguardian →
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