Long-awaited Loretta Lynch nomination approved

The Senate voted to confirm Loretta Lynch as U.S. attorney general today, making her the first African-American woman to hold the post.

Although some Republicans opposed her because of her support for abortion and President Barack Obama’s executive orders on immigration, enough joined the Senate’s Democrats to push her nomination through, 56-43. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was among the 10 Republicans who lent his support.

Republican leadership held up a vote on Lynch’s nomination after Democrats blocked a human-trafficking bill over abortion-funding restrictions. But she was widely expected to be approved. A compromise on the trafficking legislation earlier this week paved the way for the final vote.

Although Democrats decried the vote delay, the party’s leaders did not move to schedule confirmation hearings last year while they still had control of the Senate. Instead they opted to push through confirmations for federal judges.

Lynch, 55, most recently served as the top prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York. She grew up in North Carolina as the daughter of a Baptist minister.

“I pledge to all of you and to the American people that I will fulfill my responsibilities with integrity and independence,” she said during prepared remarks delivered at the start of her confirmation hearings in January.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.