Todd Blanche Nomination Moves to Full Senate

Fox News correspondent David Spunt reports from Capitol Hill on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s advancement of Todd Blanche’s nomination to the full Senate. Although Republican Sen. Susan Collins has announced her opposition, committee Republicans are largely in favor of President Donald Trump’s nominee. The hearing included criticism from progressive Democrats, including Sen. Cory Booker, who questioned Blanche’s previous record and actions.

During a recent podcast appearance with comedian Jon Stewart, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., declared his refusal to vote for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as he seeks to lead the Department of Justice officially. Fetterman responded candidly when pressed about the Democrats’ inability to utilize the Senate filibuster against Trump’s Cabinet nominees, stating his unwillingness to support Blanche.

‘Many of them I didn’t vote for,’ Fetterman said, referencing Trump’s Cabinet nominees.

Despite previously supporting Trump’s Cabinet choices, Fetterman has made it clear he won’t be voting for Blanche. He emphasized his approach to nomination voting, stating, ‘And if you’re going to bring up Blanche, I’m not going to vote for him as well. There are some that I would vote for, and then there are many that I haven’t because I just don’t believe that’s the right person for the job overall.’

According to a review by Fox News Digital, Fetterman was the only Democrat to support Trump’s former attorney general choice, Pam Bondi. He also played a crucial role in advancing Markwayne Mullin, the new Homeland Security secretary, with a decisive vote from the Senate Homeland Security Committee. Fetterman was again the only Democrat to back Mullin’s confirmation, joining 53 Senate Republicans to confirm Mullin in a 54-37 vote.

Although Fetterman previously supported Trump’s choice for the Justice Department head, he appears unwilling to offer support this time.

Trump’s AG pick Todd Blanche faces a Senate test in his first major confirmation fight since the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham. Unlike Bondi, who won her confirmation with a 54-46 vote, Blanche might lack votes as both Fetterman and Collins have publicly opposed him.

Sen. Susan Collins cited Blanche’s actions that have weakened the department’s independence as her reason for voting against his confirmation, despite having supported Blanche as assistant attorney general previously.

Two GOP senators, Bill Cassidy and Lisa Murkowski, are still undecided, while John Cornyn and Thom Tillis pivoted to support Blanche after he pledged to abandon an anti-weaponization fund strategy.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to move Blanche’s nomination forward with a party-line vote of 12-10.