Senate confirms ATF head Steve Dettelbach after White House withdrew previous nominee

The Senate voted 48-46 on Tuesday to confirm Steven Dettelbach to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives.

Dettelbach, a former federal prosecutor, vowed during his confirmation hearings that he would not be influenced by politics.

Moderate Republican Sens. Robert Portman of Ohio and Susan Collins of Maine voted in favor of the nominee, the Senate Press Gallery reported.

Six senators did not vote: Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Richard Bloomenthal (D-Conn.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), James Risch (R-Idaho) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.). 

Former Alabama Democrat Sen. Doug Jones supported Dettelbach and wrote an op-ed for Fox News stating that the nominee is "the right person to lead ATF."

In September, the White House withdrew the nomination of David Chipman, whom Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) described as an "anti-gun extremist." 

Dettelbach is the first Senate-confirmed ATF head in nearly a decade as the agency has operated under acting directors since 2015, CNN reported.

Following several recent mass shootings, Dettelbach's role in shaping gun policy will be of particular importance.