Sen. Susan Collins of Maine speaking at the 2018 Small Business Expo at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona, Gage Skidmore
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) shocked the political world on Tuesday by announcing she would vote against confirming President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, to hold that job in an official capacity.
“I have carefully reviewed Todd Blanche’s qualifications to be Attorney General,” Collins posted on X. “This includes his record and responses to questions from Senators at the Department of Justice Appropriations hearing, his confirmation hearing, and in the weeks that followed.”
She added, “While I believe Mr. Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice has become increasingly political. Mr. Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the Department’s independence, and that is the basis for my vote to oppose his confirmation: Mr. Blanche approved an order to shield the President, his sons, and the family business from IRS audits, protections unavailable to other American taxpayers. He approved the creation of a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. He promised an anti-abortion organization that he would seek to prohibit the mailing of abortion medication to women nationwide.”
Collins concluded, “Under his leadership, the Department attempted to indict Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin over their ill-advised, but constitutionally protected, videos encouraging resistance to unlawful orders. More than 1,200 former Department of Justice employees have opposed his nomination, arguing that he has undermined the institution. For these reasons, I will vote against this nomination.”
Social media quickly blew up with reactions to Collins’ decision, particularly on X. Many of them focused on how her decision will make it harder for Blanche to get confirmed,
“BREAKING - Sen. Susan Collins is a no on President Trump’s attorney General nominee Todd Blanche,” wrote NewsNation's Hannah Brandt on Tuesday. “This makes the math very tough for Blanche, who can only afford to lose one more Republican vote and still get confirmed.”
“Big: Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) says she's voting NO on Todd Blanche's nomination to serve as attorney general,” wrote MS NOW's Mychael Schnell on Tuesday. “With McConnell absent, Republicans can only afford to lose two GOP votes and still confirm Blanche. Murkowski and Cassidy haven't said how they'll vote.”
Gregg Nunziata, a right-wing lawyer and executive director of Society for the Rule of Law, praised Collins through a conservative framework, namely that she was correct in both opposing Blanche and supporting Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
“Susan Collins, correct on Kavanaugh, correct on Blanche,” Nunziata wrote.
“With Susan Collins a NO on Todd Blanche, his nomination as AG hangs by a thread,” wrote CNN's Manu Raju on Tuesday.
Raju added, “Lisa Murkowski just pointedly declined to comment to me just now when asked if she’d vote for Blanche. Bill Cassidy earlier today wouldn’t comment to me either. Blanche can only afford to lose two GOP votes with McConnell out.”
Fox News' Chad Pergram posted on Tuesday that “it’s about the math. The Senate is effectively operating at 52 Republicans and 47 senators who caucus with the Democrats with the absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY). So with Collins’ opposition, and presuming that all Democrats are nays, that gets you to 51-48.”
He added, “What we don’t know is if the decisions by Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Cornyn (R-TX) to support Blanche provides cover for other possible GOPers who may have reservations with Blanche. That includes Sens. John Curtis (R-UT) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). If Blanche loses the support of one more (presuming everything is equal) the vote is 50-49. Remember, Vice President JD Vance CAN ONLY vote if it’s a tie. So the nomination can only lose one more vote. An additional no vote from a GOPer blocks the nomination.”
Pergram concluded, “Keep in mind that Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has been rather cryptic about the rest of the schedule this week.”
By contrast, CBS News' Caitlin Huey-Burns wrote that “Blanche can still get confirmed without her, but notable in election year.”
Meanwhile NBC News' Sahil Kapur posted on Bluesky that “Susan Collins is a NO on Todd Blanche for AG: ‘While I believe Mr. Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice has become increasingly political.’ Unlikely to change the outcome; he can lose two Rs and get confirmed. Collins voted YES on Blanche as Deputy AG last year.”
