McConnell stays away, shrinking GOP room to confirm pick
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said Friday she will oppose Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general, saying the Senate would surrender its leverage over a proposed fund if it confirmed him.
Murkowski said in a statement she is concerned President Donald Trump’s administration could proceed with the proposed fund to compensate Jan. 6 rioters even though Blanche has pledged to shelve the idea. The Senate has leverage over the fund that Trump wants only because Blanche’s nomination is still pending, she said, and that leverage would be gone once he is confirmed.
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, but Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is not attending Senate sessions, giving the GOP little room to lose senators and still confirm the president’s pick.