It's official: Loretta Lynch has been approved by the Senate, making her the first black woman to become attorney general. She will replace Eric Holder, who announced his intent to resign from his post back in September.
Lynch's confirmation comes after a long delay—she was nominated by President Obama in November. From Politico:
Sen. Barbara Boxer, a Democrat, released a statement as well, saying, "Loretta Lynch is an extraordinary nominee with an extraordinary record, and she is just the attorney general we need during these challenging times."
As Glamour previously reported, Lynch, 55, received both her undergraduate degree and law degree from Harvard University, after which she spent 11 years working in the U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn, N.Y. From there, she went on to work at two private law firms and eventually returned to New York in 2010 to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
"Loretta has spent her life fighting for the fair and equal justice that is the foundation of our democracy," said President Obama in a released statement. "As head of the Justice Department, she will oversee a vast portfolio of cases, including counterterrorism and voting rights; public corruption and white-collar crime; judicial recommendations and policy reviews…. She will bring to bear her experience as a tough, independent, and well-respected prosecutor on key, bipartisan priorities like criminal justice reform. And she will build on our progress in combatting newer threats like cybercrime. Loretta's confirmation ensures that we are better positioned to keep our communities safe, keep our nation secure, and ensure that every American experiences justice under the law."