One Republican joined the 50 Democrats to vote in favor of President Joe Biden’s associate attorney general nominee, Vanita Gupta, confirming her nomination with a 51-49 vote. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said from the Senate floor on Wednesday that she had an “extensive” conversation with Gupta, and that she was impressed by her professional credentials and the “passion that she carries with her with the work that she performs.” All other Republicans voted against Gupta, citing her past comments and positions on abortion, gun rights, law enforcement, and religious liberty. In her opening statement during her hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee in early March, Gupta said she would work to uphold the Constitution and not any partisan agenda. “If confirmed, I will aggressively ensure that the Justice Department is independent of partisan influence,” she said at the time. “That independence is part of a long tradition, and it is vital …