A bipartisan majority in the Senate voted to confirm Merrick Garland to lead the Justice Department.
Garland was confirmed on a 70–30 vote. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina were among the Republicans senators who supported Garland’s nomination.
Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ted Cruz of Texas were among those who opposed his nomination.
“America can breathe a sigh of relief that we’re finally going to have someone like Merrick Garland leading the Justice Department. Someone with integrity, independence, respect for the rule of law and credibility on both sides of the aisle. He understands that the job of the attorney general is one to protect rule of law, unlike the previous attorneys general under President Trump,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said, according to NBC news.
During his confirmation hearing Garland pledged to de-politicize the Justice Department and to “supervise the prosecution of white supremacists and others who stormed the Capitol on January 6” as lawmakers met to certify the 2020 election.
