Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on Friday became the second Republican senator to say she'll vote against Todd Blanche's nomination for U.S. attorney general, putting his confirmation further at risk.
Murkowski joins Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who said Tuesday that she'll vote against Blanche's nomination. Blanche, President Donald Trump's pick for the role, is now acting attorney general.
Murkowski questioned if Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, would be an effective check against Trump if he's confirmed as the leader of the U.S. Department of Justice.
In a social media post Friday, she listed various ways the Justice Department has been politicized and referred to the $1,776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund order that Blanche said he's rescinded earlier this week.
"I am ... keenly aware that the department's nearly $2 billion dollar slush fund -- which likely would have rewarded January 6 protestors -- is only off the table because this nomination is pending and the Senate has leverage," Murkowski wrote. "Once we vote, that will end, and there is no telling what the future holds.
"The country needs an attorney general who will check the worst impulses of this administration. I hope Mr. Blanche is able to achieve that, if confirmed, but I simply do not have confidence that will be the case."
Collins also questioned Blanche's independence and approval of the anti-weaponization fund -- as well as its connected settlement agreement giving Trump and his family protection from tax investigations -- in saying she will vote against the nomination.
Also, "more than 1,200 former Department of Justice employees have opposed his nomination, arguing that he has undermined the institution," Collins said in her statement Tuesday. "For these reasons, I will vote against this nomination."
With Murkowski and Collins voting against the nomination, Sen.Mitch McConnell still absent from the Senate and all Democrats saying they'll vote against him, Blanche can't lose any more votes and be confirmed.
It is uncertain how Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican and frequent Trump critic, will vote. Cassidy has so far declined to comment on the question.
Before Blanche rescinded the $1,776 billion fund order, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn also said they'd vote against him. However, they reversed course on that Monday.
However, Trump said on social media Saturday -- before Blanche issued his order on the fund - that if Blanche is not confirmed, he will remain acting attorney general and the fund "would immediately be back on the table,and I will get it done!"
Blanche has been in the acting attorney general role since Trump fired Pam Bondi in April.