Fetterman to oppose Blanche's nomination to head Justice Department
The Hill · C · trust 55/100
Comments: by Alexander Bolton - 08/05/26 12:03 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Alexander Bolton - 08/05/26 12:03 PM ET Comments: Link copied NOW PLAYING Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) says he will vote against acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to serve in the role permanently, putting more pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to limit GOP defections on the high-profile nominee.
“If you’re going to bring up Blanche, I’m not going to vote for him,” Fetterman told “The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart” podcast.
He noted that he’s supported some of President Trump’s Cabinet picks, most notably Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to serve as secretary of Homeland Security.
Fetterman could have blocked Mullin’s nomination in the Homeland Security Committee because the panel’s Republican chair, Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), voted against him.
“There’s some I would vote for,” Fetterman said of Trump’s executive branch nominees. “And there’s many that I haven’t because it’s just — I don’t believe that’s the right person for the job,” he told Stewart.
“I really try to call balls and strikes. I do think, like, for example, Mayorkas he did a terrible job,” Fetterman said, referring to Alejandro Mayorkas, who served as secretary of Homeland Security under former President Biden.
Fetterman’s opposition to Blanche leaves Thune less room to maneuver as he tries to get Blanche confirmed before the Senate leaves for a five-week August recess.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced Tuesday that she will vote “no” on Blanche, and two other Republican senators remain undecided on Blanche: Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Bill Cassidy (La.).
Thune cannot afford to lose more than two GOP senators on Blanche’s nomination because he’s working with an effective Senate GOP majority of 52 seats while Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is absent for the foreseeable future because of a serious health issue.
Thune, however, told reporters Wednesday that he feels confident he has the votes to confirm Blanche.
“I’m confident. We’re having conversations with the folks, the small number of people who will be undecided in this, and I’m hopeful we’ll get there. But, again, it’s a work in progress and we’re not there yet,” he said.
The GOP leader said his “intention and hope” is to have a final confirmation vote on Blanche before the August recess.
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