Todd Blanche’s path to becoming the next U.S. attorney general has grown increasingly uncertain after a key Republican senator publicly broke ranks, tightening the numbers game for President Donald Trump’s nominee in the Senate.
Senator Susan Collins announced that she would oppose Blanche’s confirmation, dealing a significant setback to the former Trump lawyer, who is currently serving as acting attorney general. With Senator Mitch McConnell absent indefinitely, Republican leaders now have almost no room for additional defections if they hope to secure Blanche’s appointment.
The spotlight has shifted to Senators Bill Cassidy and Lisa Murkowski, both of whom have previously voiced reservations about Blanche’s nomination. Neither lawmaker offered any indication on Wednesday about how they intend to vote, leaving the confirmation battle hanging in the balance.
Blanche has spent recent days trying to shore up support among skeptical Republicans. In an effort to win over hesitant senators, he reportedly assured lawmakers in writing that a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund linked to a settlement involving Trump and the Internal Revenue Service would not move forward. He also clarified that a separate tax-immunity arrangement applied solely to previous tax filings.
Despite those assurances, concerns continue to linger within Republican ranks. Some senators remain uneasy about whether the abandoned fund could eventually resurface and why the administration negotiated an agreement that critics argue could personally benefit the president by saving him millions of dollars in taxes.
Senate Republican leader John Thune has made clear that he wants Blanche’s confirmation wrapped up before lawmakers leave Washington for a month-long recess. However, he acknowledged that negotiations with undecided senators are still underway.
“We’re having conversations with the small number of people who remain undecided,” Thune told reporters, adding that discussions are ongoing and that no final consensus has yet emerged.
Behind closed doors on Wednesday, Blanche met separately with Cassidy and Murkowski at the Capitol in an attempt to address their concerns. The meetings lasted long enough to suggest substantive discussions, but neither senator emerged ready to commit.
Murkowski described the talks as productive and said she would need time to reflect on what had been discussed. Cassidy struck a similar note, saying only that the lengthy meeting indicated a serious exchange of views.
With the Senate preparing to adjourn for its summer break, Blanche’s confirmation fight has entered a critical phase. One Republican vote has already slipped away, and every remaining undecided senator now holds outsized influence over the fate of Trump’s nominee.
