James Comey confirmed as new FBI director

The Senate has confirmed James Comey as the new director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, voting 93 to 1 to give the former George W. Bush administration official the job.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky) had placed a hold on Comey’s nomination while he sought answers to questions about the bureau’s use of drones on US soil, the Associated Press reported.

Paul released his hold Monday after receiving a response from the FBI. He was the only ‘no’ vote.

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Comey, 52, is a registered Republican who held the number-two job in the Justice Department from 2003 to 2005. He will replace outgoing FBI chief Robert S. Mueller III.

Comey is best known for stopping White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Bush White House counsel Alberto Gonzales from renewing a program that permitted warrantless wiretaps while Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft was in the hospital in 2004.

Since leaving the Justice Department in 2005, Comey has worked for defense contractor Lockheed Martin, as well as Connecticut-based hedge fund Bridgewater Associates and Columbia Law School in New York.