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.

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

Brushing off concerns over his espousal of conspiracy theories and 'Signalgate' involvement, the U.S. Senate confirmed Joe Kent to a key counterterrorism post.