William Barr, a former U.S. Attorney General and a conservative Kirkland & Ellis lawyer, will return to head the Justice Department, stepping in to oversee the special counsel probe into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election as it appears to near its end.

Barr was confirmed Thursday afternoon by a 54-45 vote in the U.S. Senate. Three Democratic senators—Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, and Doug Jones of Alabama—joined the Republican majority to approve Barr’s nomination. Only one Republican—Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky—broke from GOP ranks to oppose Barr’s bid.