Rodney Scott confirmed as head of CBP by US Senate despite ‘cover-up’ claim

A view shows a patch of US Customs and Border Protection on the uniform of an officer, outside the Edward R Roybal Federal building in Los Angeles last week. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

The US Senate on Wednesday confirmed Rodney Scott as commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), despite a former top official accusing him of orchestrating a “cover-up” over the death of a man detained while trying to enter the country from Mexico.

Scott was confirmed on a party-line vote, with 51 Republicans in favor and 46 Democrats opposed, along with three absences.