Collins drops the hammer on Trump's pick to lead DOJ, jeopardizing path to confirmation

After surviving a key committee vote Tuesday, Blanche's fate became even more uncertain as Republican leaders eye a full floor vote to confirm him. That's because Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is not going to back him.

"Mr. Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the Department's independence, and that is the basis for my vote to oppose his confirmation."

"For these reasons, I will vote against this nomination," Collins said.

Those include senators Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; John Curtis, R-Utah; and Bill Cassidy, R-La.

It all comes after Blanche and the Department of Justice struck a deal with Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, to win their support in the Senate Judiciary Committee that gave explicit direction that the anti-weaponization fund was dead and narrowed the scope of Trump and his family's audit immunity.

But critics of the deal in the Senate say there's no real binding mechanism to ensure that neither Trump nor Blanche would just turn around and tear up the agreement after his confirmation.

Fox News Digital did not immediately receive comment from the White House on Collins' decision.