Murkowski breaks with GOP, vows to vote against Blanche for attorney general
Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she will oppose Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination, citing concerns over a proposed Jan. 6 fund.
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has announced she will vote against the confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general, breaking ranks with her party on one of President Donald Trump's key nominations.
In a statement released Friday, Murkowski said she is worried that the Trump administration could still move forward with a proposed fund to compensate individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, despite Blanche's public pledge to shelve the idea.
Murkowski argued that the Senate currently holds leverage over that fund only because Blanche's nomination is still pending. She warned that this leverage would disappear entirely if Blanche is confirmed to lead the Justice Department.
The announcement creates a fresh challenge for Republican leadership. With a 53-47 majority in the Senate, the GOP has little room for dissent. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is not attending Senate sessions, further narrowing the margin and making it harder to confirm the president's pick without Democratic support.