WASHINGTON – Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced Friday she will vote against the confirmation of Todd Blanche, President Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, further complicating the narrow path for the nominee in the closely divided Senate.
Murkowski’s stated opposition centers on the terms of a recent legal settlement between the Justice Department and the President, specifically the initial proposal for a $1.8 billion fund to compensate individuals who claim they were unfairly investigated. Despite Blanche formally rescinding the creation of this fund, Murkowski voiced doubt over his long-term commitment to dismantling the program.
“Once we vote, that will end, and there is no telling what the future holds,” Murkowski stated, indicating the Senate's leverage over the matter expires with the confirmation.
Murkowski joins Senator Susan Collins of Maine in opposing the nominee. With Senator Mitch McConnell absent from sessions, Blanche can afford to lose only two Republican votes if all Democrats remain unified against him. The vote of Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana remains unannounced, making him a pivotal figure in the confirmation battle.
Deal Struck on Tax Audit Immunity
The late-stage maneuvering follows a deal struck last weekend to secure votes on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina had threatened to block the nomination over a separate component of the settlement granting legal immunity from tax audits to President Trump and his family.
Under pressure, the Justice Department issued a written clarification that the tax audit immunity applies strictly to claims open at the time of the settlement and does not cover future tax examinations. The clarification also limits the protection to the specific parties in the lawsuit: Donald Trump, his two sons, and the Trump Organization.
The opposition from Murkowski signals persistent skepticism regarding the deal's durability. Democrats have called for permanent legislation to bar the compensation fund, arguing that the administration could revive it after a confirmed Attorney General is in place.