The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Merrick Garland as attorney general in a 70-30 vote, with 20 Republicans joining all Democrats in approving President Joe Biden’s pick. The nomination came about five years after Garland’s failed nomination to the Supreme Court by then-President Barack Obama. At the time, the Senate, which was controlled by Republicans, denied Garland, 68, a hearing or a vote. Garland has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Court since 1997. Garland got the support of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). “I’m voting to confirm Judge Garland because of his long reputation as a straight shooter and a legal expert. His left-of-center perspective has been within the legal mainstream. Let’s hope our incoming attorney general applies that no-nonsense approach to the serious challenges facing the Department of …