The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions to lead the Justice Department, sending the matter to the full Senate.

The Wednesday vote fell along party lines, passing 11-9. It came after a day's delay when Senate Democrats balked at Sessions' ties to Trump's controversial immigration plans.

Wednesday's meetings turned testy several times, including during a statement by Sen. Al Franken, D-Minnesota, who said Sessions misrepresented his history on prosecuting civil rights violations.

In explaining her "no" vote, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the committee, said Tuesday "the partisanship (Sessions) exhibited" should disqualify him from the office.

"I have no confidence" Sessions would stand up to President Donald Trump, she said.

Sessions was a key adviser to Trump during the presidential campaign and his early days in office. Prior to endorsing Trump, Sessions was already the leading Senate hardliner on immigration and though he denied direct involvement, it's thought Sessions influenced this week's controversial Executive Order limiting immigration from seven predominately-Muslim countries.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, said Sessions' ties to Trump should not be an issue.

"The fact that he's close to the president does not disqualify him at all," Graham said. "Who do you expect (the president) to pick?"

"(Sessions) is a good, decent man who will follow the law as he sees it. He will take the country down a different road than President Obama and his appointees did and that's what the election was all about," Graham said. "He's a good, decent man who is every bit as qualified as (former Attorney Generals) Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch."

Sessions' nomination now heads to the full Senate, where it is expected to be approved by the Republican majority.