The Senate on Tuesday evening confirmed President Donald Trump’s ranking Justice Department official, Emil Bove, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit despite calls from Democrats to investigate whistleblower allegations against the nominee.

Bove, a former federal prosecutor with the Southern District of New York and the DOJ’s principal associate deputy attorney general, was confirmed in a 50-49 vote after a tense debate and a razor-thin vote. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski broke with their party to oppose the nomination, while Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) did not vote.

The vote marked Trump’s second successful appellate court appointment since returning to the White House.

The confirmation reflects Trump’s aggressive judicial strategy in his second term, building on the recent confirmation of Whitney Hermandorfer to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month to replace an Obama-era appointee, further tilting the court that hears appeals from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee to the right.

Bove’s confirmation, however, was far more contentious.

Just hours before the vote, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) sent a letter to the Justice Department’s acting inspector general, William Blier, urging an investigation into allegations that Bove once suggested ignoring court orders related to immigration enforcement.

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