Murkowski says she'll vote against Blanche's nomination for attorney general

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced on Friday that she will vote against Todd Blanche's nomination to become the next attorney general, further complicating the confirmation process for President Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department. The senator from Alaska expressed her concerns over the administration's potential plan to compensate individuals involved in the January 6 riot, even though Blanche has issued a formal order to terminate the proposed fund.

She argued that the Senate could still exert influence over the fund as long as Blanche's nomination is still pending, which would no longer be the case if he were confirmed to the position. Blanche managed to secure the necessary support from the Senate Judiciary Committee with a 12-10 vote, primarily due to his promise to Republican senators that he would not pursue compensation for the alleged January 6 rioters.

The confirmation path for Blanche now hinges on the votes of two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who have both stated their opposition to his nomination.