US Senate votes to advance nomination of US antisemitism envoy, Deborah Lipstadt

By Jacob Magid

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29 March 2022, 6:40 pm

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Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

American historian and author Deborah Lipstadt poses for photographer at the Rome Film festival in Rome, on October 17, 2016. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

After months of delay, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has voted to advance the confirmation of US President Joe Biden’s nominee to serve as special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, Deborah Lipstadt.

Lipstadt, a Holocaust scholar, receives the support of Republicans Mitt Romney and Marco Rubio, as well as every Democrat on the 22-member panel, in a 13-9 vote.

Next, she will face a vote before the entire Senate, which is expected to pass, sealing her confirmation. A date for the vote has not yet been scheduled.

Today’s vote is hailed by Jewish groups across the political spectrum. The mandate of the position is somewhat limited though, as the envoy is only tasked with addressing antisemitism abroad, and not domestically where US officials have jurisdiction.

The Senate panel has also voted to advance the confirmation of Biden’s nominee to serve as assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, Barbara Leaf. Her nomination has similarly been held up for months by Senate Republicans, though Romney and Rob Portman have joined the committee’s Democrats in voting yes.