WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R) announced Tuesday that she will vote against the confirmation of Todd Blanche to serve as the next Attorney General of the United States, saying she believes the Department of Justice has become increasingly politicized and that Blanche’s actions have further weakened the agency’s independence.
In a statement explaining her decision, Collins said she conducted an extensive review of Blanche’s qualifications, including examining his record, his testimony during the Department of Justice Appropriations hearing, his Senate confirmation hearing, and his written responses to lawmakers in the weeks that followed.
“I have carefully reviewed Todd Blanche’s qualifications to be Attorney General,” Collins said. “While I believe Mr. Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice has become increasingly political.”
Collins said her opposition is based not on Blanche’s legal abilities, but on what she described as a pattern of decisions that have undermined public confidence in the Justice Department’s independence.
Among the actions Collins cited were Blanche’s approval of an order shielding President Donald Trump, his sons, and the Trump family business from IRS audits, protections she noted are not available to other American taxpayers.
She also criticized Blanche for approving the creation of a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund and for promising an anti-abortion organization that he would seek to prohibit the mailing of abortion medication to women nationwide.
Collins further pointed to the Justice Department’s attempt under Blanche’s leadership to indict U.S. Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan over videos encouraging resistance to what they described as unlawful orders. While Collins called the senators’ actions “ill-advised,” she emphasized that the speech was constitutionally protected.
The Maine senator also noted that more than 1,200 former Department of Justice employees have publicly opposed Blanche’s nomination, arguing that his leadership has undermined the institution.
“For these reasons, I will vote against this nomination,” Collins concluded.
Collins has frequently emphasized the importance of maintaining the Justice Department’s independence from political influence. Her opposition to Blanche marks another instance in which she has broken with the Trump administration over nominees and issues involving the rule of law and the independence of federal institutions.
