The Senate on Tuesday confirmed career prosecutor Steve Dettelbach as director of the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
President Joe Biden called the Senate’s move an “important sign” that both political parties can work together to support law enforcement and fight gun violence, the White House said Tuesday.
The upper chamber on Tuesday approved Dettelbach to serve as ATF director in a 48-46 vote, making him the first Senate-confirmed head of the agency in over seven years, according to a report by NPR.
The president said Dettelbach will play a key role in implementing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and advancing other executive measures to counter crime and save lives.
Dettelbach is former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio during the Obama administration. Since 2016, he has been with BakerHostetler as co-leader of the law firm’s white collar, investigations and securities enforcement and litigation team.
