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Senate confirms Huber as U.S. attorney for Utah, returning him to old job

New boss is the same as the old boss after President Trump nomination.<br>

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune U.S. Attorney John W. Huber announces an investigation into the Utah Transit Authority at a news conference in Salt Lake City, Tuesday April 4, 2017.

Washington • John Huber will be back in his former post as Utah’s top federal prosecutor after the Senate on Thursday confirmed him unanimously for the post.

Huber, who had resigned as U.S. attorney for Utah in March at the request of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, has been leading the office as acting U.S. attorney since then.

It’s customary for U.S. attorneys to offer their resignations when a new president takes office and 47 did so when Donald Trump was sworn in. Sessions requested 46 others resign later. (Some more populous states have multiple U.S. attorneys.)

Huber, who had served as U.S. attorney for Utah since 2015, was praised by Sen. Orrin Hatch when Trump re-nominated the prosecutor for the job.

He has been involved in the highest-profile cases and coordinated task forces on everything from counterterrorism to violent crime,” Hatch said in June when Trump made the nomination. “He has been recognized at the highest levels in the Department of Justice for his performance. It is no stretch to say that Utah’s families are safer as a result of his efforts.”

Huber was approved by voice vote as the Senate pushed through dozens of pending nominations before leaving for an August break.