Susan Collins says she won't vote to confirm Trump's pick for attorney general
Collins said she would oppose Todd Blanche’s confirmation, citing actions she believes have weakened the Justice Department’s independence.
SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Centralmaine.com, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
Centralmaine.com is an established regional news outlet, and this report identifies its author and attributes statements to named sources. It also credits the Associated Press for some reporting.
- Source type — Established local news outlet with a regional reporting operation.
- Author attribution — The article names its reporter and attributes quotations to Collins, a party spokesperson and other sources.
- Editorial standards — The report includes specific details and attributed claims, though the text alone offers limited evidence about corrections practices.
The article gives a clear account of the committee vote, Collins’s stated reasons and the negotiations preceding the vote, with claims attributed to named sources. It includes a response from the Maine Democratic Party but no direct response from Blanche, leaving some perspectives on his actions unrepresented.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article reports Collins’s rationale, criticism from the Maine Democratic Party and the Republican senators’ negotiations with Blanche. It gives useful context but does not include a direct response from Blanche to Collins’s criticisms.
- Counterarguments presented — The article includes the Maine Democratic Party’s criticism of Collins’s timing but no direct defense from Blanche.
- Source diversity — Includes statements from Collins, a party spokesperson and reporting on senators’ actions and the Justice Department’s position.
- Omitted context — Blanche’s perspective on the allegations Collins cited is absent.
The report uses straightforward language and attributes both Collins’s reasons for opposing Blanche and the Maine Democratic Party’s criticism of her timing. It presents the confirmation process and negotiations without an evident partisan framing.
- Language tone — Mostly descriptive language, with evaluative claims presented as quotations.
- Source selection — Includes Collins’s explanation and criticism from the state Democratic Party; Blanche does not speak directly in the article.
- Framing — Focuses on Collins’s announced vote and the nomination process rather than endorsing a position.
Republished
Republished from Portland Press Herald. The relationship between the two publishers has not been determined.
Not enough stories yet: 7 of 10.
Sen. Susan Collins said she will oppose Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general, citing actions she believes have undermined the Justice Department’s independence. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Blanche’s nomination 12-10, and the full Senate could vote later in the week.
Collins said she had reviewed Blanche’s qualifications and considered him a capable lawyer, but would vote against his confirmation because she believes the Justice Department has become increasingly political. She cited actions including an IRS-audit order, a proposed fund for Trump allies, a pledge about abortion medication and the department’s attempt to indict Sens. Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin. She also noted that more than 1,200 former department employees opposed the nomination.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines to advance Blanche’s nomination. Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis backed him after the Justice Department confirmed it would not proceed with a $1.8 billion fund; Blanche issued an order saying there was no fund. The full Senate could vote later in the week. The Maine Democratic Party criticized Collins, saying she waited until confirmation was nearly assured to announce her opposition.
Community verdict
17 VOTES
People in this story
SWIPE →Maine senator announcing opposition to Todd Blanche’s confirmation
Acting attorney general and nominee for attorney general
Blanche's version of this story ↗
Former attorney general
Michigan senator whom the Justice Department attempted to indict under Blanche’s leadership
President whose attorney general nominee is the subject of the story
Kentucky senator whose possible return could affect the Senate vote count
Alaska senator who had not said how she would vote on Blanche’s nomination
North Carolina senator who negotiated with Blanche and backed his nomination
Louisiana senator who had not said how he would vote on Blanche’s nomination
Arizona senator whom the Justice Department attempted to indict under Blanche’s leadership
Texas senator who negotiated with Blanche and backed his nomination
Maine senator whose spokesperson said he does not issue statements ahead of votes
Part of a bigger story
12 OUTLETSOutlets agree Susan Collins said she will vote against Todd Blanche’s nomination to become attorney general, citing concerns about the Justice Department’s independence. Left-leaning outlets pair that rationale with criticism of Blanche and the Trump administration, while some also question Collins’s record or credibility. Center outlets report her stated rationale and place her vote in the broader Senate confirmation picture, including its possible effect on Blanche’s prospects. Right-leaning outlets emphasize that her opposition could complicate confirmation and discuss the votes Blanche may need.
- ARTICLES
- 13
- OUTLETS
- 12
- AVG CRED
- 63
Discussion · 0
Loading comments…