Kent’s nomination was approved despite objections from Democrats, who said his embrace of conspiracy theories and past associations with extremists were disqualifying.

After a vote on Wednesday, the U.S. Senate confirmed former Washington congressional candidate Joe Kent as director of the National Counterterrorism Center.

Joe Kent, a former Army Special Forces soldier and two-time Republican candidate for Congress in Washington, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday as director of the National Counterterrorism Center.