The Senate confirmed Mary Jo White to head the Securities and Exchange Commission Monday in a voice vote.
Both Republicans and Democrats had expressed support for President Barack Obama’s pick to lead the agency,
Politico reports. She previously served as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York where she gained a reputation as a tough prosecutor of mobsters and terrorists.
White cleared the Senate Banking Committee on a 21-1 vote, the lone no-vote being Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who had issues with White’s stint as a defense attorney for the banking and finance industries.
White assured the committee during her confirmation hearing that she could be effective and that she had spoken with SEC ethics officials on having to recuse herself from some issues. She was told recusals are not unusual for SEC members, she said.
Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson, D-S.D., praised White’s quick confirmation, on the first day of Congress’ return from a two-week break.
“After meeting her, listening to her testimony and closely reviewing her qualifications, it came as no surprise that she received such overwhelming bipartisan support for her confirmation,” Johnson said in a written statement Monday.
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