The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved the nomination of Kathi Vidal to lead the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, sending her nomination to the full Senate.
The panel voted to advance Vidal’s nomination 17-5, with Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), John Kennedy (R-La.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) voting against her.
President Joe Biden tapped Vidal, a partner at Winston & Strawn LLP, in October. Drew Hirshfeld has been performing the duties of the director. If confirmed, Vidal would be the second woman to lead the agency.
Vidal told lawmakers at her Dec. 1 confirmation ...