WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to confirm Loretta Lynch as the next U.S. attorney general, bringing her one step closer to becoming the first African-American woman to hold the post.
The panel voted 12 to 8, with all Democrats voting for Lynch. Republicans were split: Sens. Orrin Hatch (Utah), Jeff Flake (Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.) supported her nomination, while Sens. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), David Vitter (La.), Jeff Sessions (Ala.), John Cornyn (Texas), Mike Lee (Utah), Ted Cruz (Texas), David Perdue (Ga.) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) opposed her.
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“We’re going to be voting — finally, finally, finally — on the nomination for Loretta Lynch,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the committee’s ranking Democrat. “I’ve been here for 40 years, and no attorney general … has ever had to wait this long for a vote.”
Lynch’s nomination now heads to the full Senate for a vote.
