Todd Blanche’s nomination moved to the Senate floor, but he can afford to lose only one GOP vote. Susan Collins announced she will vote against him, citing actions that eroded DOJ independence.

Blanche, a former personal lawyer to Donald Trump, has aggressively pursued the president’s agenda, including a $1.8 billion anti‑weaponization fund and an IRS settlement that granted the administration special audit immunity. He has also accelerated scrutiny of alleged Russian interference and launched criminal actions against Trump’s critics.

The confirmation race is tightening as John Thune pushes for a vote before the August recess. With Mitch McConnell absent and all Democrats opposed, the focus turns to Republicans like Lisa Murkowski and Bill Cassidy, who 入 remain silent.

The final floor vote is expected later this week, and its outcome will shape the DOJ’s direction amid ongoing investigations and the upcoming midterm elections.