Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, came out Friday against President Donald Trump’s pick of Todd Blanche for attorney general, leaving the nomination hanging by a thread.
Murkowski joins fellow centrist Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to oppose the president’s choice. With Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., out indefinitely, and Democrats expected to vote no, a third GOP opponent would block the nomination for the powerful job.
Despite the “numerous constructive meetings” she’s had with Blanche, Murkowski said in a statement, “I will oppose his nomination.”
“The country needs an Attorney General who will check the worst impulses of this administration. 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.
Murkowski also warned of the “politicization” and “even weaponization” of the Justice Department, which she said has accelerated under the Trump administration.
She cited the Justice Department’s handling of the release of files in the case of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and questioned whether the Trump administration’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, which she called a “slush fund” in her announcement, would remain off the table.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who Trump worked to oust from the Senate, remains undecided.
“No comment on Blanche,” he told NBC News when asked Thursday how he’ll vote.