Senate confirms Biden’s nominee for No. 2 official at DOJ

The Senate on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to confirm Lisa Monaco, a veteran national security official and federal prosecutor, for the No. 2 position at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Monaco received overwhelming support from both parties in the 98-2 vote approving her to serve as the deputy attorney general. Her confirmation came more than two months after that of Attorney General Merrick Garland.

During former President Obama’s second term, Monaco served as his homeland security and counterterrorism adviser after nearly 15 years at the Justice Department.

Her career climb began when she helped lead the prosecution against a group of former Enron executives. In 2006, then-FBI Director Robert Mueller tapped Monaco as a counselor and later as his chief of staff.

She later led the DOJ’s national security division, becoming the first woman to serve in that role.

Like Garland, Monaco faced little opposition in her confirmation process. But Senate Republicans have raised objections to two other Biden DOJ nominees, promising to escalate political battles over their confirmations.

Vanita Gupta, Biden’s pick for the No. 3 post at the agency, and Kristen Clarke, who was nominated to lead the civil rights division, have both faced stiff opposition from the GOP in part because of their past civil rights advocacy.

The Senate Judiciary Committee last month deadlocked over whether to advance Gupta, but this week the Senate voted 50-49 to proceed with her confirmation in the coming days.