The Senate Judiciary Committee has moved Todd Blanche’s nomination to the full Senate for confirmation. This advancement comes amidst opposition from some senators, including Susan Collins of Maine, who has declared her stance against Blanche. Despite Collins’ opposition, the general Republican consensus supports Blanche, who is aligned with President Donald Trump.
During the committee hearing, criticism came from progressive Democrats like Sen. Cory Booker, who questioned both Blanche’s record and his past actions. Additionally, Sen. John Fetterman from Pennsylvania has publicly stated that he will not vote in favor of Blanche for the role of attorney general.
Fetterman detailed his position during an appearance on comedian Jon Stewart’s podcast. He expressed disappointment over Democrats not using the Senate filibuster to halt Trump’s Cabinet nominees. Fetterman confirmed he did not vote for many of Trump’s nominees and clearly stated his opposition to Blanche’s nomination, referring to his process as a fair judgement of suitability.
Despite being a Democrat who has previously supported half of Trump’s Cabinet nominees, including a decisive vote for Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation as Homeland Security secretary, Fetterman has made it clear he will not extend that support to Blanche. The discrepancy in support highlights a shift, considering Fetterman had also backed Pam Bondi, another attorney general nominee from Trump.
Trump’s current nominee, Blanche, stands to face a challenging confirmation. With both Fetterman and Collins against him, Blanche’s position is precarious. Collins voiced concerns about Blanche’s actions that she believes have compromised the Department of Justice’s independence, leading to her decision not to support his confirmation.
Meanwhile, Republican senators Bill Cassidy and Lisa Murkowski remain undecided about Blanche’s nomination. Others like John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have reversed their previous opposition after Blanche agreed to forgo pursuing an anti-weaponization fund.
The Senate Judiciary Committee’s party-line vote, standing at 12-10, has now set the stage for the full Senate to consider Blanche’s nomination. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House, the DOJ, and Sen. Fetterman for further comments.