Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she will not support Todd Blanche nomination for U.S. attorney general

Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced early Friday that she will not vote for President Donald Trump’s nomination of Todd Blanche to serve as U.S. attorney general, a decision that could complicate or slow the confirmation timeline for the Justice Department’s top post. Murkowski’s statement came as Blanche moved from an acting role toward an official confirmation, according to The Guardian.

Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, said her opposition was tied to concerns that a proposed fund designed to compensate people involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol could proceed even after Blanche’s confirmation. The senator’s position centers on whether the Justice Department under a confirmed attorney general would support or continue that effort, The Guardian reported.

Blanche had been described in coverage as having been elevated from acting to official confirmation consideration, and Murkowski’s decision means she is not aligned with the administration’s nomination at this stage. The practical impact of a single senator’s vote depends on the Senate’s overall lineup and whether additional procedural steps are required, but Murkowski’s public break indicates at least one senior Republican is not prepared to support the nomination as presented.

The Guardian framed Murkowski’s stance as part of her broader concerns about the legal and procedural consequences of the administration’s approach to accountability for January 6 and the role of the Justice Department in administering remedies. Murkowski’s stated objection is therefore not to Blanche’s background as such, but to what the senator said could follow if the nomination is approved while the compensation-related policy remains in motion.

Murkowski’s announcement also underscores the Senate’s role in checking executive appointments, particularly for attorney general, a position that carries major responsibilities for federal law enforcement and for overseeing Justice Department prosecutions and policies. Because the attorney general is the department’s chief legal authority, senators’ votes can affect not just the individual nominee’s status, but also the administration’s ability to set enforcement priorities through confirmed leadership.

If Murkowski’s “no” vote holds, the nomination’s path would depend on how the Senate proceeds on confirmation, including whether additional bargaining or revised support emerges from other members. Even if Blanche is advanced procedurally, Murkowski’s public commitment suggests the administration would face tighter constraints in securing a favorable roll call if the final margin is close.

For the administration, the nomination remains a high-stakes step: a confirmed attorney general would have authority over Justice Department policy and implementation. For Murkowski, the key issue described in the reporting is the prospect that compensation for January 6 rioters could move forward in a way she views as inconsistent with her concerns about accountability and the justice process, The Guardian said.