The nomination of Jason Dunn, President Donald Trump’s pick to be Colorado’s next U.S. attorney, was confirmed Thursday night by the U.S. Senate.
That’s according to U.S. Sen Cory Gardner’s office. The Colorado Republican’s staffers say Dunn was approved by a voice vote.
“Jason is going to make an excellent U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, and I’m thrilled that he was confirmed on Thursday,” Gardner said in a written statement. “He has broad bipartisan backing and a record of public service that highlights the quality person he is in the community.”
Dunn will replace holdover Bob Troyer in becoming the state’s top federal prosecutor.
Troyer has been leading the Colorado U.S. Attorney’s Office since John Walsh, a Barack Obama appointee, stepped down from the post in July 2016.
Dunn was nominated to be Colorado’s U.S. attorney in June.
Dunn, a Republican attorney, was a shareholder at the powerful Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck law firm before being tapped for the U.S. attorney’s job. He previously served as a deputy attorney attorney general and as assistant solicitor general in Colorado.
Troyer has grabbed headlines in recent weeks after he criticized Colorado’s state marijuana laws as being too loose. He said the statutes put public safety at risk.
In his role, Dunn will be in charge of directing how federal law enforcement in the state handles cannabis.
“I’m appreciative of the Senate’s vote and in particular the support of Senators Gardner and (Michael) Bennet,” Dunn said in a written statement to The Colorado Sun. “I’m now focused on getting to work with the talented people in the office representing the United States and ensuring Colorado remains a safe place to live and work.”
Colorado Sun staff writer John Frank contributed to this report.
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UPDATED: This post has been updated to correct the name of Colorado’s U.S. attorney before Bob Troyer. John Walsh, an appointee of President Barack Obama, held the job before stepping down in 2016.