Congress

Capitol agenda: Collins loses her foil in Platner

Published

3 weeks ago

July 9, 2026

Susan Collins’ fight to hold onto her seat just got messier.

Republicans had welcomed Graham Platner as a foil to Collins, who is trying to win a sixth Senate term in a state that voted for Kamala Harris in 2024.

But now, while Maine Democrats prepare for an intense two week sprint to replace Platner, Collins’ team will have to start from scratch in their strategy against a new nominee — who may not be known until close to the party’s July 27 deadline to declare one.

And according to a person familiar with the campaign’s thinking, Collins’ team had viewed Platner as a uniquely vulnerable opponent whose personal controversies could help offset a big challenge in 2026: running as a Republican in the era of President Donald Trump.

Polling published in late June showed Collins and Platner in an extremely close race.

“She can certainly win, but they didn’t want to change candidates,” the person familiar with the campaign’s thinking said. “The stuff we already knew about Platner was going to propel Collins to overcome the Trump anchor. Now it’s going to be a Democrat with a cleaner record, presumably.”

Collins didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Republicans are signaling at least one playbook for moving forward: trying to tar any replacement Democrat with Platner by association. POLITICO reported Monday about an accusation of sexual assault against Platner, which he denies.

“Democrats rolled in the mud with Platner, and now they are completely stained by their association with this sick monster,” Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters said in a statement.

Now all eyes are on Maine’s Democratic Party, which Wednesday approved tentative plans for a nominating convention.

Platner, for his part, did not immediately endorse another candidate, saying in his withdrawal video Wednesday night the process must be “open” and controlled by the “people of Maine.”

Washington Democrats, meanwhile, are turning their focus to Collins while wanting to avoid the appearance of interfering with the selection of a new nominee.

“Democrats are going to defeat Susan Collins, win Maine, and take back the Senate,” posted Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has encouraged a Maine-centric process to replace Platner, according to a person familiar, granted anonymity to discuss the situation.

Top Democratic funding groups have also announced they’re jumping back into the race.

“Susan Collins is more vulnerable than she has ever been after voting with Trump 96 percent of the time, being the decisive vote for the justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, and selling out to the special interests that fund her campaigns after three decades in the Senate,” Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Executive Director Devan Barber said in a statement.

What else we’re watching:

— NO END IN SIGHT FOR HILL’S EPSTEIN PROBE: Nearly one year into House Oversight’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation and neither party sees a reason to stop. Oversight Chair James Comer, who had originally hoped to wrap up interviews by August recess, said “it’s probably going to be hard because it seems like … after every deposition we get another name or two that we need to talk to.” That means the congressional Epstein probe could continue for the foreseeable future regardless of who wins the midterms, not only out of hopes of finding a smoking gun but also because the political incentives to keep investigating — for both parties — are impossible to resist.

— DEMS LOOK TO VOTES, DOLLARS IN IRAN WAR PROTEST: Democratic leadership is eyeing ways to check Trump’s ability to wage war in Iran after a successful vote on the issue last month didn’t slow him down. Democrats could force votes on new war powers measures when the chamber returns next week in an attempt to replicate last month’s politically symbolic win. But the party’s best leverage for stopping the war may be money.

Jordain Carney, Sophia Cai, Hailey Fuchs, Connor O’Brien and Leo Shane III contributed to this report.

Congress

Trump puts his ‘anti-weaponization fund’ back on the table

Published

9 hours ago

August 1, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

President Donald Trump said early Saturday he would push to get the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” codified into law if the Senate does not confirm his attorney general pick, Todd Blanche.

The fund has emerged as a key issue stalling Blanche’s confirmation, with Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who are both departing the Senate after the midterms, withholding their support in the Senate Judiciary Committee unless the White House commits to shelving the proposal in writing.

Now, Trump says the fund is back on the table, and maybe he’ll even keep Blanche on in an acting capacity if he can’t get his way in Congress next week.

“If Senators Cornyn and Tillis, both upset because I wouldn’t Endorse them (they lost, and quit, respectively!), aren’t going to approve Todd Blanche, one of the most respected professionals, according to everybody, in the Country, to be the United States Attorney General, then I will keep Todd as Acting A.G., and push hard to get the Anti-Weaponization Bill, which takes care of those who have been so badly treated by the Crooked Joe Biden (and Obuma!) Administration (I get nothing, although I was treated horribly!), PASSED,” he wrote.

“Todd Blanche was a voice of reason!” Trump wrote. “It will immediately be back on the table, and I will get it done.”

The missive comes a day after Trump reluctantly declared the fund “dead” in a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, making Saturday’s post a notable reversal in tactics as he moves from a negotiating posture to digging his heels in.

The fund stems from a settlement negotiated earlier this year that envisioned roughly $1.8 billion being doled out in payments to people who claimed they were unfairly targeted by the federal government during the Biden administration, which could include everyone from people who broke into the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and assaulted police officers to Hunter Biden.

The Justice Department has since indicated it does not intend to move forward with the payments, with Blanche testifying before a congressional committee in June, “We’re not moving forward with the fund, period.”

But Tillis on Saturday wrote that the president’s latest social media barb was proof that he “clearly intends to resurrect the payout pot for punks either by inappropriately establishing another bogus fund or pushing Congress to vote for a bill that the majority of Republicans in the Senate would be against.”

“It’s unfortunate that Todd Blanche, who I consider qualified for the job, will not be confirmed because of this reversal,” the two-term North Carolina senator wrote.

But he teased that a deal may not yet be out of reach: “Hopefully, we can resolve this by Tuesday.”

Congress

‘Platner on steroids’: Max Miller abuse claims have Republicans silently sweating

Published

10 hours ago

August 1, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Public scrutiny of domestic abuse allegations against Rep. Max Miller is quickly mounting. His Republican colleagues have been slow to respond.

New reporting on government documents claiming that Miller poured hot water on his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, held a gun to her head and broke their young daughter’s collarbone has brought a wave of new attention to the Ohio lawmaker’s long-running public marital dispute. This week, Moreno’s lawyer filed for a restraining order against Miller, accusing him of harassing his ex-wife’s counsel.

The surge of attention presents a dilemma for Republicans: speak out against their colleague who is running in a competitive race or face accusations of hypocrisy after hammering multiple similarly scandal-plagued Democrats — including Graham Platner, who recently ended his Maine Senate campaign, and Eric Swalwell, who resigned his House seat in April.

Miller, like Platner and Swalwell, denies any wrongdoing. And so far, those fellow Republicans have been largely silent. A host of prominent GOP leaders nationally and in Ohio either declined to comment or did not respond to inquiries from Blue Light News.

Keeping quiet and hoping for the best could be a risky strategy. Nonpartisan handicappers at the Cook Political Report have already upped Democrats’ chances to take the Cleveland-area seat, and House Democratic campaign brass is bullish about Miller’s opponent, ironworker Brian Poindexter, who has for months raised the abuse claims against the incumbent.

“These are serious allegations and deserve the full attention of law enforcement,” Poindexter said in a statement this week. “If all the allegations against Congressman Miller prove to be true, Max Miller should be in jail, not worried about retaining a seat in Congress.”

Moreno and Miller, seen arriving for Miller's orientation as a House member in November 2022.

Even before the latest allegations were published by Mother Jones, which have not been independently confirmed by Blue Light News, Miller sued his ex-wife and her legal team for defamation. He argued that they made “false, malicious, and defamatory statements wrongly accusing [him] of being a violent and abusive husband and father.”

Miller’s campaign spokesperson said in a statement “this narrative has gone on long enough.”

“The facts speak for themselves: the court has continued to permit him joint custody of his child. If there were credible evidence supporting these outrageous accusations, that simply would not be the case,” the spokesperson, Abigail Angelos, said. “Congressman Miller will continue to vigorously defend his reputation against false and reckless allegations designed to inflame public opinion rather than reflect reality.”

A spokesperson for Moreno, Stefan Mychajliw, referred to the recent restraining order filing said in a statement: “There is a demonstrable pattern of repeated violent and dangerous behavior and the filing speaks for itself.”

Republicans are approaching a potential make-or-break moment next week: Aug. 5 is the last day to replace Miller on the ballot, and at least some in the party are quietly raising alarms with the House majority potentially teetering on just a few competitive seats.

One GOP operative granted anonymity to speak candidly accused some fellow Republicans of “burying their heads in the sand” and called the situation “Graham Platner on steroids.”

“What happens when Democrats run ad after ad targeting GOP voters about Miller abusing the daughter of a pro-Trump MAGA senator?” the person said. “What does that do to GOP turnout? How does that affect our candidates at the top of the ticket who are already in tough races?”

Moreno is the daughter of Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, who has said little about the unfolding legal battle.

“Senator Moreno’s top priority is the safety and well-being of his daughter and granddaughter. While he does not litigate these matters in the media or respond to baseless public attacks, he will do whatever it takes to ensure a just outcome for his family,” Reagan McCarthy, a spokesperson for the senator, said.

Miller has enjoyed close relationships with fellow House Republicans, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise.

Other prominent Ohio Republicans also did not respond to requests for comment made through spokespeople, including Sen. Jon Husted, governor nominee Vivek Ramaswamy and Vice President JD Vance.

Before Miller’s election to Congress in 2022, he worked for President Donald Trump doing advance work. He is a mainstay of the MAGA universe, with deep personal ties to many of his House GOP colleagues — despite his outspoken criticism of Speaker Mike Johnson. Miller also previously faced accusations from former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, which he has denied through an attorney.

The drumbeat of allegations about Miller has put some of his House colleagues in an awkward position. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) said she knows both Miller and Moreno “personally,” noting that she had a joint baby shower with Moreno hosted by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

“What I hate about this entire situation is that these articles the press are putting out have been very nasty especially with accusations and it is only hurting one person… their daughter. I do not know Max to be a violent person and have only ever found him to be incredibly kind and honorable,” Luna said in a text message.

She added, “I will also not disparage Emily. She comes from a wonderful family and Senator Moreno is one of the best in the Senate. I think this divorce has been incredibly painful for both parties involved and would ask the press to consider those facts.”

One Republican lawmaker, outgoing Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, called the allegations against Miller “horrific.”

“They must be investigated, and if true, he should resign immediately,” she said in a statement.

Several Democrats, including the leadership of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, have also said that the House Ethics Committee must open an investigation into Miller.

“The recent reports of domestic violence and child abuse against Representative Max Miller are deeply disturbing and Congress can’t ignore them,” the leaders of the caucus, Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico, Emilia Sykes of Ohio and Hillary Scholten of Michigan, said in a joint statement. “Allegations of violence against women and children have to be met with the utmost seriousness.”

Johnson has also deferred to the Ethics Committee, which has not announced any action regarding Miller. The independent Office of Congressional Conduct also declined to comment on the allegations and whether they would be investigating it.

Miller came to prominence as a White House aide during Trump's first term.

The speaker was asked last week why Republicans allow Miller and Rep. Cory Mills of Florida, who has also faced domestic abuse allegations, in their conference— especially after Democrats dumped Platner following a sexual assault accusation first reported by Blue Light News. Mills, like Miller, has denied wrongdoing.

Johnson responded that “the key word there is allegation.”

“We have a process here,” Johnson told reporters at a news conference. “I’m not in the business of commenting on investigations as they’re in process, and we’ll see how that shakes out.”

But waiting for the results of a potentially years-long Ethics investigation might not cut it for Republicans who are under 100 days out from the midterms. The abuse allegations have handed Democrats an emotional campaign talking point, and created difficult questions for Miller’s fellow Republicans.

Rep. Jim Jordan, perhaps the most prominent Ohio Republican in Congress, brushed off questions about Miller during a Thursday CNN interview, calling it a “family matter.”

“I know Max is a good man. I was up campaigning for him, I hope he wins reelection,” Jordan said in the interview. “He’s done a good job as a member of Congress, and we should all pray for his family. These are all difficult times that they’re going through, we understand that. These kinds of situations always are.”

The GOP operative said Republicans “can expect a lot more awkward moments like Jim Jordan on BLN so long as Miller is serving in Congress.”

House Majority PAC, a well-financed super PAC aligned with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, isn’t shying from the situation. Already the PAC has spent over $1 million in the Cleveland media market, and spokesperson CJ Warnke said HMP is “willing to do whatever it takes to take back the House, and nothing is off the table.”

“Democrats are expanding the map deeper into Trump territory by the day, and Brian Poindexter will defeat the scandal plagued Max Miller,” he said.

Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.

Congress

Blanche vote is rescheduled, but there’s no deal

Published

21 hours ago

August 1, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley rescheduled a planned vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general late Friday in a preemptive move as negotiations between the Trump administration and GOP holdouts continue.

The vote, now set for Tuesday after a scheduled Thursday vote was postponed, isn’t an indication that a deal allowing for Blanche’s confirmation is near, so much as it is a nod to Judiciary Committee rules that require three days of notice for a panel meeting.

There is no sign that President Donald Trump is about to acquiesce to the unflinching demands of Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who wants a controversial settlement agreement between Trump and the IRS substantially pared back.

Cornyn, who lost his primary to a Trump-endorsed candidate, wants the Justice Department to nullify a $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and limit the scope of a tax audit immunity component of the pact.

Trump told reporters earlier Friday the fund is “dead” but added “I wish it weren’t.”

“I’d like to see them compensated,” he added, referring to people he considers victims of government abuse, including participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

To advance Tuesday, Blanche needs to pick up Cornyn and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), another senator on the panel with similar concerns. He can’t lose any GOP votes if he wants to be reported favorably out of the Judiciary Committee.

“Chairman Grassley wants Todd Blanche’s nomination to be successful,” said a Judiciary Committee spokesperson, who declined to be named. “Noticing the markup gives more time for the White House to secure the votes for the President’s nominee. Grassley would like to see Blanche confirmed before the August recess as he has an excellent record restoring law and order and keeping Americans safe.”