Lisa Murkowski Comes Out Against Todd Blanche

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced Friday morning she won't vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general. Whether Blanche's nomination will be confirmed by the Senate now appears to hinge on Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who refused to say Thursday how he might vote. In a statement, Murkowski listed several things she doesn't like about Blanche but in short, she doesn't want to put a henchman for Donald Trump at the top of the Justice Department. "The politicization -- even weaponization -- of the Department did not start with this administration but has accelerated during it," Murkowski said. "I take issue with the handling of the release of the Epstein files; the sweeping immunity protections granted to the President, his family, and their businesses; the statements that have been made to anti-abortion groups; and the repeated targeting of individuals ranging from former administration staff to sitting U.S. Senators." Murkowski said she also believed Trump would revive his "Anti-Weaponization Fund" to pay off Jan. 6 rioters. "I am also keenly aware that the Department's nearly $2-billion dollar slush fund--which likely would have rewarded January 6 protesters--is only off the table because this nomination is pending and the Senate has leverage. Once we vote, that will end, and there is no telling what the future holds."