A US Senate committee has given its approval to Sally Yates. President Obama has tapped the former US Attorney in Atlanta to be Deputy Attorney General. The Judiciary Committee approved her nomination Thursday, on a vote of 18-2. Yates has been serving as acting deputy since January.

If the full Senate votes for her confirmation, she’ll become the number two official in the Justice Department, behind incoming Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Georgia Senators Johnny Isakson and David Perdue supported Yates' nomination, but were opposed to Lynch for her defense of President Obama's actions on immigration.

Tags: Sally Yates, Johnny Isakson, David Perdue, Justice Department, Bradley George