Joe Manchin Announces Support for Biden’s ATF Nominee

Joe Manchin Speaks at Governor Hogan's Press Conference about infrastructure by Steve Kwak via Wikimedia Commons

West Virginia Democrat Senator says he plans to support President Biden’s nominee, Steve Dettelbach, as the next director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

The Hill reports:

Manchin told reporters on Thursday that he’d back Steve Dettelbach, Biden’s pick to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after meeting with the nominee earlier this week.

The key centrist expressed confidence the nominee would “do a good job,” if confirmed, while acknowledging the agency hasn’t had a confirmed head “for quite some time.”

The Senate hasn’t confirmed a permanent leader of the agency since 2013, when former President Obama held office. Previous nominations by Biden and former President Trump were withdrawn due to political opposition and amid lobbying efforts by gun groups.

Dettelbach was nominated to lead the agency in late April, months after former nominee, David Chipman ultimately withdrew his nomination for the job following staunch opposition from Republicans.

Chipman’s nomination had also drawn pushback from Independent Sen. Angus King and Democrat Jon Tester before Manchin eventually nuked the nomination himself.

However, Dettelbach’s nomination has already drawn support from King. Tester said last month he’d planned to meet with Dettelbach but he didn’t have “any red flags yet.”



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