The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of William Barr to be U.S. attorney general by a vote of 12-10, along party lines. His nomination now heads to the Senate where he will need a simple majority for confirmation. Republicans hold a 53 to 47 majority.

 

Trump announced his intent to nominate Barr as attorney general on December 7, 2018, and he was formally nominated on January 3, 2019. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing for Barr on January 15-16, 2019.

 

Barr served as the 77th United States attorney general under former President George H.W. Bush from 1991 to 1993. At that time, he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate.