WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Friday she will oppose Todd Blanche鈥檚 , narrowing the confirmation path for President Donald Trump鈥檚 pick to lead the Justice Department.
The Alaska senator said in a statement that she is concerned the Trump administration could proceed with its proposed fund to compensate Jan. 6 rioters even though Blanche has . Murkowski said the Senate has leverage over the fund, which the Republican senator wants, only because Blanche鈥檚 nomination is pending. That leverage would be gone if he is confirmed, she said.
Blanche won over the Senate Judiciary Committee in a 12-10 vote only because he promised Republican holdouts that he would not pursue the payout fund.
Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, but Sen. of Kentucky is not attending Senate sessions, giving the GOP little room to lose senators and still confirm the president鈥檚 pick. McConnell says he鈥檚 been discharged from a rehabilitation center and will continue his recovery from home.
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