The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a confirmation hearing June 4 on President Obama's nomination of Minnesota's B. Todd Jones to become the next permanent director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), dramatically increasing the chances he'll get the post.
Jones' nomination has been stalled for five months over objections raised by a group of powerful Republicans.
Brigit Helgen, a spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Thursday that the hearing will take place June 4.
Jones, who is also the U.S. Attorney in Minneapolis, became acting director of the beleaguered federal agency about 18 months ago, and has been doing two full-time jobs, said Jeanne Cooney, the spokeswoman in the U.S. attorney's office.
"He's been working long days, every day, often seven days a week," Cooney said.
Randy Furst • 612-673-4224
