Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, will vote against Todd Blanche's nomination to be attorney general, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump's pick for the nation's top law enforcement job ahead of a confirmation vote in the Senate.
"While I believe Mr. Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice has become increasingly political," Collins, who is facing a tough reelection fight, said in a statement. "Mr. Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the Department's independence, and that is the basis for my vote to oppose his confirmation."
Collins listed several reasons for her "no" vote, including Blanche's role in a controversial settlement between Trump and the Internal Revenue Service that resulted in an audit shield for the president and his family and the now-canceled "anti-weaponization fund." Collins also noted Blanche "promised an anti-abortion organization that he would seek to prohibit the mailing of abortion medication to women nationwide."
Blanche can only afford to lose two GOP votes to be confirmed, given Republicans' 53-47 majority and the extended medical absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., have yet to decide on Blanche's nomination — meaning the pair could sink him if they decide to join Collins in opposition.
Blanche was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier Tuesday by a vote of 12-10, sending his nomination to the Senate floor for a confirmation vote.
The committee vote came after Blanche, the current acting attorney general, struck a deal with Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who said they are satisfied that the controversial "anti-weaponization fund" is dead. The pair of senators deadlocked the committee by refusing to vote for Blanche until he confirmed the program's end in writing, despite verbal assurances.
Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats on Tuesday ahead of the vote on Blanche, said they are concerned the fund could still be revived. All of the committee's Democrats opposed Blanche's confirmation, while all the Republicans voted in favor.
"This document is a sham," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said, referring to files Blanche posted to social media that he said mark the end of the fund. "It is a sham and a fraud on the Congress."