Businessmen ask Congress to accept Biden victory 1:00
(CNN) -
President-elect Joe Biden has decided to nominate Justice Merrick Garland as attorney general, people familiar with the matter told CNN, a long-awaited decision that moved forward Wednesday when it became clear that Democrats were about to win. control of the Senate.
The attorney general's announcement, along with other top Justice Department leaders, is expected to come as early as Thursday, when Biden steps closer to filling the remaining seats in his cabinet before taking power on January 20.
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While Merrick Garland has been a top contender for weeks, concerns about the vacancy his selection would create on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia set off alarms among Biden and many aides who believed Republicans the Senate would block any nominations for that position.
But with Democrats keen to control the Senate after winning two elections in Georgia, those concerns were allayed.
"Judge Garland will now be seen in a whole new light," a senior Biden ally told CNN.
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