Collins, Who Identifies As Pro-choice, Said the Promise Was Among Several Concerns

Senator Susan Collins of Maine said Tuesday she will oppose President Donald Trump's attorney general nominee, Todd Blanche, citing his reported pledge to anti-abortion activists to prohibit mailing abortion medication nationwide. Collins, who identifies as pro-choice, said the promise was among several concerns. Blanche also reportedly told anti-abortion groups he would work to make the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision permanent.

The Department of Justice said the comments were mischaracterized and taken out of context. Reproductive Freedom for All President Mini Timmaraju called Blanche's promises dangerous. Collins has previously broken with her party on abortion, saying Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch's votes to overturn Roe v. Wade were inconsistent with their testimony.

Her opposition highlights political sensitivity around Blanche's abortion views as he would oversee federal abortion law enforcement. the mailing of abortion medication to women nationwide.