The Senate voted on July 12 to confirm Steve Dettelbach as head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The 48–46 vote broke down mostly along party lines, with some Republicans joining Democrats to confirm Dettelbach, who was appointed by President Joe Biden.
Dettelbach received the support of two Republicans—Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio)—both in the Senate Judiciary Committee. With their support, Dettelbach slid past a floor vote in the Senate with the tie-breaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris as every other Democrat supported his confirmation.
The Democrats’ agenda in the Senate faced potential challenges after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) contracted COVID-19. Senate president pro tempore Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is also out of commission due to recovery from hip surgery….