Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Tuesday that she would not vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general of the Justice Department. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Sen. Susan Collins said Tuesday that she will vote against Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general, further narrowing his path to confirmation.
"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," Collins, a Republican from Maine, said in a statement.
Collins cited Blanche's handling of Trump's anti-weaponization fund, his commitments to anti-abortion groups to restrict the mailing of abortion medication and the Justice Department's failed attempt to indict six Democratic lawmakers over a video encouraging active-duty service members to reject unlawful orders.
"For these reasons, I will vote against this nomination," she said.
