Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced her opposition to Todd Blanche’s nomination for U.S. attorney general on Thursday, citing concerns regarding the politicization of the Department of Justice. The announcement places the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s nominee in doubt as he seeks to transition Blanche from his current role as acting attorney general to a permanent position.
Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal defense attorney, assumed the role of acting attorney general in April after the dismissal of Pam Bondi. During his confirmation hearings, Blanche faced questioning from lawmakers regarding several administration actions, including a proposed $2 billion settlement fund and a provision granting the president immunity from certain IRS audits.
In a statement on X, Murkowski said that while the politicization of the Department did not begin with the current administration, it has "accelerated during it." She specifically referenced the administration’s handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein and the creation of an "anti-weaponization fund." Murkowski stated she lacked confidence that Blanche would "check the worst impulses of this administration."
The scale of the primary policy concern involves a nearly $2 billion fund intended to compensate individuals alleging government persecution. If distributed, this would represent approximately $6 per U.S. resident, though critics like Murkowski expressed concern that the funds might instead be directed to those prosecuted for the January 6, 2021, attack on Congress. A person would notice the impact of this decision through the distribution of these federal funds or through changes in how the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) conducts audits of the president’s personal finances, as established in a related settlement.
The decision sets a precedent regarding the Senate’s role in confirming former personal attorneys of a president to lead the nation's top law enforcement agency. If the nomination fails, President Trump stated he would keep Blanche in the role as acting attorney general. This would maintain the current leadership status quo but without the permanent Senate confirmation usually required for the position. The next steps involve a potential floor vote, though no specific date was reported, and the pending decision of Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) on whether to support the nomination.
The White House responded to the announcement by calling Murkowski’s decision "disappointing." Press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Blanche as "exceptionally qualified" and argued that he should be confirmed. Trump expressed confidence on Thursday that Blanche would "survive" the confirmation process. Blanche has previously pledged to walk back the controversial $2 billion fund following criticism from Republican senators.