The US Senate has confirmed Mary Jo White’s nomination as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, clearing the way for her to become the first former prosecutor to lead the agency that oversees Wall Street.
White was swiftly approved today by a voice vote in the Senate.
President Barack Obama nominated White for the job. She was the US attorney in Manhattan from 1993 through 2002. She said in her confirmation hearing that she would aggressively pursue enforcement and hold individuals accountable for misconduct.
White also pledged to avoid potential conflicts of interest from her work over the past decade as a private attorney representing big corporations.
As SEC chairman, her responsibilities will include enforcing complex regulations written in response to the 2008 financial crisis.