The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary advanced President Donald Trump’s nomination of former state Sen. Darin Smith for Wyoming’s lone U.S. Attorney seat Thursday, in a 12-10 vote along party lines.

The gesture sends Smith’s confirmation question to the full U.S. Senate for a vote, which Smith confirmed to Cowboy State Daily could happen in January.

Besides confirming that timeframe, Smith declined to comment, saying he’d been advised by the U.S. Department of Justice not to comment on the ongoing process.

Two Democratic senators, Dick Durbin of Illinois and Peter Welch of Vermont, cast Smith as unqualified, and derided his comments in reference to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach and his presence on the grounds that day.

“Mr. Smith in Wyoming is not remotely qualified to be a Uni

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