U.S. Senate committee approves Williams nomination for U.S. attorney - Alabama Daily News

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Phil Williams’ nomination to be U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama on Thursday.

The panel approved his nomination on party lines by a vote of 12-10 over Democratic opposition to Williams’ past statements about Jan. 6, 2021 and his vocal support of the Trump administration on his conservative radio program. His nomination is now sent to the full Senate for a vote.

Williams, an attorney, managed Williams, King & Associates, before it merged with Long & Associates after Williams was nominated as a federal prosecutor. A Republican state senator from 2010 to 2018, Williams also served as the chief policy officer at the Alabama Policy Institute.

“Senator (Tommy) Tuberville and I believe (Williams’) legal career spans over two decades, during which he has appeared in court over 700 times and tried over 30 cases to verdict,” Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said in support of Williams during the meeting. “He is a decorated veteran who served his country in the military for 30 years, retiring in 2017 having reached the rank of colonel.”

The top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, objected to Williams’ nomination, calling out the nominee’s lack of prosecutorial experience.

“Mr. Williams’ main qualification appears to be his podcast and social media posts in which he spouts MAGA orthodoxy,” Durbin said.

The democratic senator also pointed to Williams’ past social media posts and comments on the Jan. 6 Capitol riot in which the nominee said the “January 6th was not an insurrection” and celebrated President Donald Trump’s pardon of the Capitol rioters.

Britt pushed back on Durbin’s objections, saying, “I do think it’s important to note that Mr. Williams has been publicly and consistently clear that violence, including the violence on January 6, is unacceptable.”

Williams will replace acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby. Trump tapped Williams for the position last year.

A U.S. attorney typically serves for four years or until a new appointment is made. Interim appointments are also possible.

The district includes Birmingham, Huntsville, and Tuscaloosa.