Two Republican senators have announced their intention to vote against the confirmation of a Trump-backed nominee for Attorney General, citing concerns about the politicization of the Department of Justice. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska stated she would oppose the nomination of the candidate, identified in the notes as Blanche, because the country needs an Attorney General who will "check the worst impulses of this Administration."
Murkowski joined Sen. Susan Collins of Maine in opposing the nominee. Collins, who is facing a challenging re-election campaign, released a similar statement, acknowledging the nominee as a "capable lawyer" but expressing worry that the DOJ "has become increasingly political." Collins also noted that the nominee has "taken several actions that have further eroded the Department’s independence."
These two senators have previously broken ranks with the Trump administration, including voting to limit the president's authority to engage in military action in Iran without congressional approval.
The opposition from Murkowski and Collins complicates the confirmation process for the nominee in a Senate where Republicans hold a narrow 53-47 majority. The decision by these senators suggests a growing challenge for the administration in securing confirmation for its judicial and executive branch appointments.