{"id":2641730,"date":"2026-08-07T08:24:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T12:24:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lisa-murkowski-a-no-on-todd-blanche-ahead-of-vote\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T08:27:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T12:27:28","slug":"lisa-murkowski-a-no-on-todd-blanche-ahead-of-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lisa-murkowski-a-no-on-todd-blanche-ahead-of-vote\/","title":{"rendered":"Lisa Murkowski a &#8216;no&#8217; on Todd Blanche ahead of vote"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flisa-murkowski-a-no-on-todd-blanche-ahead-of-vote%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2641730&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has announced her opposition too the nomination of Todd Blanche for a full-term Attorney General, citing concerns about his ability to serve independently from the Trump management and criticizing the politicization of the Justice Department. Although she found Blanche to be decent and capable in meetings, she expressed doubt he would act as a necesary check on executive overreach. murkowski pointed to several issues, including the department\u2019s handling of high-profile cases, immunity protections for Trump, and recent settlements, emphasizing the need for an Attorney General who can resist political pressures. Despite her opposition, she praised Blanche for his outreach and constructive engagements, including visits to Alaska. Murkowski\u2019s decision, along wiht Senator susan Collins\u2019s anticipated opposition, may delay Blanche\u2019s confirmation until after the Senate\u2019s August recess. The confirmation process has been contentious, with some Republican negotiators reaching deals to advance his nomination. Former President Trump has publicly opposed Murkowski\u2019s stance, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >highlighting ongoing political divides surrounding<\/a> the appointment.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lisa-murkowski\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2303\">Lisa Murkowski <\/a>(R-AK) announced Friday that she will oppose the nomination of acting Attorney General<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"20883\"> Todd Blanche <\/a>for a full term, dealing a blow to his confirmation effort.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Murkowski said that while she found Blanche to be \u201cdecent and capable\u201d after several meetings, she lacks confidence that he would serve as an independent check on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"339\">Trump administration<\/a>.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4678874\/lisa-murkowski-no-todd-blanche-confirmation-vote\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Lisa Murkowski a \u2018no\u2019 on Todd Blanche as prospect of confirmation before recess dims<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4678609\/senate-scrambles-for-exit-amid-outstanding-to-do-list-funding-bill-clear-as-mud\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senate scrambles for the exit amid outstanding to-do list: \u2018Clear as mud\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4677982\/mcconnell-absence-gop-farm-bill-august-recess\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>McConnell absence foils GOP plans to advance farm bill before August recess<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUltimately, however, I will oppose his nomination,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/lisamurkowski\/status\/2085667540265504961\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/lisamurkowski\/status\/2085667540265504961\">Murkowski said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cThe politicization\u2014even weaponization\u2014of the Department did not start with this administration but has accelerated during it.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She pointed to several concerns, including the<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"167\"> Justice Department\u2019s <\/a>handling of the Jeffrey <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/epstein-files\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"17582\">Epstein<\/a> files, sweeping immunity protections for President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>, his family and businesses, statements made to anti-abortion groups, and what she described as the department\u2019s repeated targeting of political opponents.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Murkowski also cited the Justice Department\u2019s now<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/susan-collins-to-oppose-todd-blanche-nomination-for-attorney-general\/\" title=\"Susan Collins to oppose ... ... for ...\">-scrapped \u201canti-weaponization\u201d fund<\/a>, which she said could have benefited Jan. 6 defendants, and the administration\u2019s May settlement shielding Trump and his family from IRS tax audits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe country needs an Attorney General who will check the worst impulses of this administration,\u201d Murkowski said. \u201cI hope Mr. Blanche is able to achieve that, if confirmed, but I simply do not have confidence that will be the case.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite her opposition, Murkowski praised Blanche\u2019s outreach to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/alaska\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"960\">Alaska<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI have had numerous constructive meetings with Mr. Blanche and he comes across as decent and capable,\u201d she said. \u201cI appreciate the trip he made to learn more about Alaska, including our rural areas, and as Acting Attorney General he has made several noteworthy decisions that will benefit our state and the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier this week, Sen.<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1302\"> Susan Collins <\/a>(R-ME) said she would <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4675099\/susan-collins-oppose-todd-blanche-nomination-attorney-general\/\">oppose Blanche\u2019s nomination<\/a>, meaning Republicans could afford only one additional \u201cno\u201d vote on the Senate floor, given Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mitch-mcconnell\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"436\">Mitch McConnell\u2019s<\/a> (R-KY) absence. Murkowski\u2019s decision to oppose Blanche will likely delay the confirmation vote until after the Senate\u2019s August recess.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blanche, who was previously Trump\u2019s personal attorney, was confirmed earlier this year as deputy attorney general before becoming <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/attorney-lin-wood-defends-ag-bill-barr-after-announces-he-is-stepping-down-trump-voters-respond\/\" title=\"Attorney Lin Wood Defends AG Bill Barr After Announces He Is Stepping Down \u2014 ... Voters Respond\">acting attorney general<\/a> following Pam Bondi\u2019s ousting in April.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Blanche\u2019s nomination on Monday after contentious negotiations with Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-cornyn\/\">John Cornyn<\/a> (R-TX) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thom-tillis\/\">Thom Tillis<\/a> (R-NC), who originally opposed Blanche.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4670112\/cornyn-reaches-deal-doj-todd-blanche-nomination-vote\/\">CORNYN REACHES DEAL WITH DOJ AHEAD OF TODD BLANCHE NOMINATION VOTE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump explicitly opposed Murkowski in comments made before she announced her decision.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m against Murkowski,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/punchbowl.news\/archive\/8726-am\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/punchbowl.news\/archive\/8726-am\/\">Trump told<\/a> <em>Punchbowl News<\/em>. \u201cI do more for Alaska than any president in history. No president\u2019s done for Alaska what I\u2019ve done. She\u2019s not good.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Murkowski opposes Todd Blanche\u2019s full AG nomination, citing concerns<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2641731,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/080626_WEX_MURKOWSKI-1-e1786045653636.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[43451,53651,45632,51594],"class_list":["post-2641730","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-alaska-politics","tag-lisa-murkowski","tag-senate-vote","tag-todd-blanche"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/080626_WEX_MURKOWSKI-1-e1786045653636.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641730","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2641730"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641730\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2641734,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641730\/revisions\/2641734"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2641731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2641730"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2641730"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2641730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}