WASHINGTON — Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced Friday she will oppose President Donald Trump's nomination of Todd Blanche for attorney general, putting his confirmation in jeopardy and dealing a significant blow to the administration's bid to install him as the Justice Department's permanent leader.
Murkowski said her opposition stems from concerns that the Trump administration could move forward with a proposed fund to compensate individuals involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. She said she will "oppose" Blanche's confirmation, drawing a direct line between the policy dispute and her vote.
Blanche currently serves as acting attorney general. His full confirmation requires a simple majority — 51 votes, or 50 with the vice president as tiebreaker. Republicans hold 53 Senate seats, meaning the party can absorb only a handful of defections. Murkowski's announcement erases that margin by one and raises the stakes for any other Republican who shares her reservations.
Trump nominated Blanche to lead the Justice Department, a post central to executing the administration's legal agenda. The attorney general oversees federal law enforcement and serves as the president's chief legal adviser.
Murkowski has a long record of breaking with her party on contested votes. Her opposition signals the White House cannot count on a unified Republican conference for the confirmation.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) now faces the task of tallying support across the Republican conference and potentially courting moderate Democrats to make up the difference. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has not publicly stated a position on Blanche's nomination.
Without a clear path to 51 votes, Blanche faces a harder confirmation fight, and the White House will need to either shore up support or weigh alternatives if backing continues to erode.
