Topline

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced Friday she will vote against Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general, leaving Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who lost his re-election bid after President Donald Trump endorsed his opponent—as the deciding factor.

Key Facts

Murkowski said she can’t trust Blanche to “check the worst impulses of this administration,” noting several Justice Department decisions she has opposed during Trump’s second term, including its handling of the Epstein files, immunity granted to Trump, his family and the targeting of Trump’s political enemies.

Without Murkowski’s support and Sen. Mitch McConnell’s, R-Ky., continued absence, Blanche can afford to lose just one vote, as all Democrats and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, are against confirming Blanche.

Cassidy said as recently as Wednesday he is undecided, telling SiriusXM radio, “I’ve got to be convinced that he is an attorney general who just happens to have once been President Trump’s personal attorney, as opposed to President Trump’s personal attorney who is now the attorney general,” The Guardian reported.

Cassidy has become more openly critical of Trump since losing his primary in May after Trump endorsed his opponent, Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., and was among four Republicans who voted to curb Trump’s power in the Iran war.

What To Watch For

The Senate leaves for a five-week recess Friday. It could table Blanche’s confirmation hearing until it’s back in Washington. It’s unclear if McConnell—who could break a tie if Cassidy opposes Blanche—will return. He announced Thursday he had been discharged after a nearly two-month hospital stay after falling at his Washington residence in June and was recovering at home.

Key Background

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to advance Blanche’s nomination after Blanche agreed to formally kill the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund for Trump’s allies in an agreement to secure votes from two GOP holdouts, Sens. John Cornyn, Texas, and Thom Tillis, N.C., Despite Blanche’s assurances, there are concerns the fund could be revived since Trump didn’t sign an agreement to modify his settlement with the IRS that established the fund. Collins said Tuesday she would vote against Blanche, citing the IRS settlement and his opposition to restrict mail delivery of abortion pills. Blanche, who was appointed to replace Pam Bondi after Trump fired her in April, can continue serving as interim attorney general while his nomination is pending.

further reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Todd Blanche As AG After Initial Delay (Forbes)