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New Minister of Justice
Merrick: During his term in office, he doesn't want to act in the interests of the president, but rather the American people
Photo: CARLOS BARRIA / POOL / EPA
Merrick Garland is the new US Attorney General.
The US Senate upheld President Joe Biden's nomination of the renowned judge.
In the democratically run Senate, 70 of the 100 senators voted for Garland.
The 68-year-old has promised to exercise independence and non-partisanship in his new office and to act in the interests of the American people rather than the president.
The previous federal judge also wants to give priority to the reappraisal of the attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump on the US Capitol.
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Joe Biden nomination: Merrick Garland to become the new US attorney general
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Former President Barack Obama wanted to make Garland a Supreme Court judge in 2016.
The personnel failed because of the resistance of the Republicans in the Senate.
However, the vote on Wednesday showed that Garland enjoys non-partisan support.
Even Mitch McConnell, who played a key role in denying the Supreme Court seat in 2016, endorsed Garland.
"I am voting to endorse Judge Garland for his long-standing reputation as a straightforward shooter and legal expert," McConnell said before the vote.
"His left-of-center perspective is within the legal mainstream."
Merrick previously worked as a judge on a federal court in the capital, Washington.
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kim / dpa / Reuters