Susan Collins Opposes Attorney General Nominee Over Abortion Stance

Reported comments by Todd Blanche to anti-abortion activists have seemingly cost him support in a significant Senate Republican decision. Maine Senator Susan Collins announced on Tuesday her opposition to President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. She cited various concerns about his record, including a pledge to anti-abortion groups to ban the mailing of abortion medication nationwide.

Identifying as pro-choice, Collins remarked that Blanche’s commitment to anti-abortion advocates influenced her decision. She stated that Blanche’s promise to an anti-abortion entity aimed to prohibit mailing abortion medication, which would greatly involve the federal government in abortion policy, despite the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision returning regulation to states.

Blanche reportedly vowed to anti-abortion groups that he would strive to make the Dobbs decision “permanent” if confirmed, according to a report by The Hill. Newsweek reached out to Collins and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for comments on Tuesday.

What To Know

The Hill reported Blanche saying, “If states decide to protect the unborn from conception, we’re establishing policies to ensure other states and organizations can’t undermine that. They can’t engage in actions like mailing abortion drugs.”

Reacting to this, the DOJ remarked that Blanche’s comments have been misrepresented and were specifically about mail-order abortion drugs, not a broader federal expansion over states.

Before Collins’ opposition was publicized, Reproductive Freedom for All CEO Mini Timmaraju criticized Blanche’s private assurances to use the Justice Department to enforce a national abortion ban. Timmaraju urged belief in Blanche’s intent to challenge reproductive rights and called on voters to respond in the upcoming elections.

Collins’ position highlights her ongoing divergence from her party on abortion issues. Despite having supported conservative Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, Collins, who identifies as pro-choice, found the justices’ decisions inconsistent with their assurances to her regarding precedent adherence.

Her stance on Blanche points to the political delicacy of his abortion viewpoints. As attorney general, he would direct the Justice Department’s enforcement of federal abortion laws and interpretations of mailing medication abortion under the Comstock Act. His commitments to anti-abortion groups might become central to his confirmation debate, particularly with moderate Republicans.

The story is developing and will be updated with more details.