US Senate confirms India-origin Vanita Gupta as associate attorney general

Washington DC, April 22: With the votes being 51-49, United States Senate confirmed Indian-American Vanita Gupta as associate attorney general, which is the third-ranking official at the powerful Department of Justice. 

 

 

Now, she will serve as associate attorney general — a role in which she will oversee the department's civil rights litigation as well as its antitrust, civil, and environment divisions. The appointment makes her the first Indian-American to serve in this role.

 

According to an American news agency, Vice President Kamala Harris was on hand for a procedural vote Wednesday morning in case she was needed for a possible 50-50 tie, but her vote wasn't necessary after Murkowski, a moderate Republican from Alaska, broke with her Republican colleagues to back Gupta.

 

 

 

 

Speaking from the Senate floor Wednesday, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called Gupta's confirmation "very good news for the forces of equality and justice in the country."

 

Reacting to her confirmation, President Joe Biden said congratulations to Vanita Gupta on making history as the first woman of colour to serve as associate attorney general. Now, I urge the Senate to confirm Kristen Clarke. Both are eminently qualified, highly respected lawyers who are dedicated to advancing racial equity and justice.

 

 

Gupta has served in Justice Department's Civil Rights Division under the Obama administration. 

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