WASHINGTON – Former Atlanta U.S. Attorney Sally Q. Yates cleared an important milestone on her way to the No. 2 job at the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 18-2 to clear Yates’ nomination, as chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, declared Yates to be a less controversial choice than Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch. Among the yes votes was Georgia Republican U.S. Sen. David Perdue.
Yates’ future boss is expected to be confirmed by the full Senate this afternoon, with most Republicans -- including both from Georgia -- opposed, particularly because of her views on President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration.
Grassley said Thursday that Yates was more responsive to the committee's questions than Lynch and indicated she would be more independent from the White House, which he took from her response that the Justice Department's chief client is "the American people."
“She’ll be the No. 2,” Grassley added. “In this position, obviously, she’ll have less policy making authority than the Attorney General. That factor, as well as her willingness to demonstrate some independence when the situation calls for it, and her willingness to take at least a small step to respond to some of my questions, leads me to support her nomination.”
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the top Democrat on the committee, pointed out that Yates' nomination was supported by Republican Gov. Nathan Deal and Attorney General Sam Olens. And Georgia Republican U.S. Sen. David Perdue was a yes vote Thursday.
Yates has been serving in an acting capacity for months as she awaits Senate confirmation.
Update 2:15 p.m.: Georgia Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson also announced his support for Yates this afternoon. Here's what both senators had to say in a joint press release:
"Sally Yates has served the people of Georgia and the Justice Department with distinction, and I am confident that she will do the same as Deputy Attorney General of the United States," said Senator Perdue. "As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have spoken out against the egregious politicization of the Justice Department. Ms. Yates' record and testimony have demonstrated that she is committed to executing her duties with a much needed objective and apolitical approach to law enforcement."
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