Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's path to Senate confirmation became more complicated Tuesday after Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced she will oppose his nomination, creating fresh uncertainty for Republican leaders seeking to install President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Justice.
According to Fox News, Blanche cleared a key committee vote earlier in the day. Still, Collins' opposition narrows Republicans' margin for error as the nomination heads toward a full Senate vote.
In a statement, Collins praised Blanche's legal abilities but argued the Justice Department has become increasingly politicized.
"While I believe Mr. Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has become increasingly political," Collins said.
"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 said her decision followed a review of Blanche's record, written responses and testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee and during his confirmation hearing.
Among her concerns were Blanche's approval of tax audit protections for Trump and his family, as well as the creation of a nearly $2 billion anti-weaponization fund that has drawn criticism from some Republicans.
She also cited Blanche's commitments to anti-abortion organizations regarding mailed abortion medication, his attempted indictments of Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., over videos encouraging resistance to what they described as unlawful orders, and objections raised by more than 1,200 Justice Department employees.
"For these reasons, I will vote against this nomination," Collins said.
Her opposition does not automatically derail Blanche's confirmation, but it leaves Republicans with little room to lose additional votes.
The challenge is compounded by the continued absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., whose return date remains uncertain.
Several other Republican senators, including Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, John Curtis of Utah and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, have not publicly committed to supporting Blanche.
Collins' announcement comes after Blanche and the Justice Department reached an agreement with Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, to secure their backing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
As part of that agreement, the administration formally ended the anti-weaponization fund and narrowed the scope of the audit protections involving Trump and his family.
Some senators remain skeptical, arguing the agreement lacks a binding mechanism to prevent future changes after Blanche is confirmed.
The uncertainty also complicates Senate Majority Leader John Thune's effort to move Blanche's nomination quickly before lawmakers leave Washington for the Senate's extended August recess.
The RNC should have primaried RINO Collins this year !!!!!
She is a rino, need to get her out of there.
Very disappointed in Senator Collins decision.
Old , worthless , hemorrhoid ridden , RINO wench Collins HAS GOT TO GO !!!!! This old liberal knee pad wearing bitch is nothing but a cancer to the Republican Party !!!!! When is she going to trip down the stairs , starting on the 7 th floor ????
Thank you. No one could have said this any better!
The sooner we rid of Collins and MurCOWski, even it's with Demorats the better off we'll be.
No democrats, they will make things worse than you can imagine.
As far as I know collins has never voted with republicans. I don't understand how she can be considered as a republican? She's carved out a nice niche for herself. By running as a republican the people have no other alternative than a democrat which believe it or not is worse than collins. Hopefully when her time for reelection comes up she gets bet in the primaries due to her miserable voting record.
she is a useless POS. She is NOT a REPUBLICAN
Come on man, Collins in not a Republican. Just like "Ole Bernie" is not an independent!
Susan Collins is more of an American than you are. You are a monarchist Trumpist.
rino from maine bows down to communist democrats, that think they are kings, with “rulesand laws for thee, but not for me”, that do not want voter ID so they can cheaton elections, that do not believe “all men are created equal”, that are Godlesssupporters of the iranian death cult, they hate Donald Trump so much they eattheir own feces, claiming illegal border insurgents are emigrants, using stolenmoney from American taxpayers for their own purposes, committing fraud, weaponizing illegal border insurgents withCDL truck driving licenses, that have a record of killing Americans just toname a few; LizbethMedina, Anya Varfolomeev, Nikolay Osokin, Dacara Thompson, Nate Baker, LakenRiley, Fletcher Harris, Skylar Provenza, Ivory Smith, Alex Wise Jr, Katie Abraham,Jocelyn Nungaray, Jennifer Ann Morton, and possibly more….democrats areliars, hate Americans, aiding and abetting illegal border insurgents, transgender groomers, pedophiles, antifa, drug cartels, human trafficking,murderers, rapists, money launderers, defunding police, defunding ICE,defunding TSA, and supports communists to destroy America, therefore voting forany democrat for any office is a vote to destroy America. Period! Only the really stupid and lazy, and illegal fake voter ballots, vote for this bunch.
Looks like Trump and Stephen Miller fully occupy and possess whatever is left of your brain.