The Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed by voice vote three U.S. Attorney nominees at its meeting Thursday.
They are:
John Walsh (Hill & Robbins)
- John F. Walsh (Colorado): The partner at Hill & Robbins PC would succeed Troy Eid, who resigned as U.S. Attorney last year. President Barack Obama nominated Walsh on April 14. Read more about him here.
Stephanie Villafuerte, the deputy chief of staff to Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) for community outreach, was Obama’s first nominee for the Colorado post. But she withdrew her nomination after Republicans alleged she asked employees of the Denver district attorney’s office to access a restricted government database in connection with the 2006 gubernatorial campaign.
- John Vaudreuil (Western District of Wisconsin): Assistant U.S. Attorney in the office since 1980 would succeed Erik C. Peterson, who stepped down as U.S. Attorney in June 2009. Obama tapped Vaudreuil on May 27. Read more about him here.
- William Ihlenfeld II (Northern District of West Virginia): The partner at Ihlenfeld Law Office, PLLC, in Wheeling, W.Va., would replace acting U.S. Attorney Betsy Jividen. She has led the office since former U.S. Attorney Sharon L. Potter stepped down in September 2009. The president nominated Ihlenfeld on May 27. Read more about Ihlenfeld here.
The committee has now approved 63 of Obama’s U.S. Attorney nominees, 57 of whom have won Senate confirmation. The panel has yet to schedule votes for another 11 would-be U.S. Attorneys. There are 93 U.S. Attorney posts.
