Senate confirms Sessions
1 Dem joins unanimous GOP support for new AG
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions won confirmation as U.S. attorney general last night on a largely party-line vote after a lengthy Senate floor protest by Democrats blasting his record on civil rights and arguing that he will serve as a rubber stamp for the views and policies of President Trump.
The Senate confirmed Sessions 52-47, with U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) joining Republicans’ unanimous support of their colleague from Alabama. Sessions voted “present” on his own nomination.
GOP leaders praised their former colleague, and gave him a standing ovation after the vote.
“He’s got a big job ahead of him. I think he’s up to the task. He’s tough but he’s fair,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. “He’s a likeable guy, a principled colleague and an honest partner.”
The contentious debate over the nomination reached a crescendo late Tuesday when U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) was formally censured and barred from debate on the nomination after reading a 1986 letter from Coretta Scott King. The letter, written in opposition to Sessions’ bid to become a federal judge, expressed concern that he would use his office to “chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens.”
Warren also read a past statement from the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy calling Sessions a “disgrace to the Department of Justice.”
The censure, directed by McConnell, drew the ire of Democratic lawmakers, several of whom read parts or all of King’s letter yesterday, including Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Ohio U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Bay State U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey.
Markey said in recent days his office has been flooded with thousands of calls from Bay State constituents expressing concerns about Sessions’ record. He said he told constituents he believes Sessions’ record demonstrates “hostility towards important constitutional rights” protecting people of color, women, immigrants and the gay, lesbian and transgender community.
“We must insist that our top law enforcement official upholds the law for all Americans,” Markey said yesterday. “I do not have assurance that Sen. Sessions will meet that challenge.”
Other Democrats questioned whether Sessions would be able to stand up to Trump if asked to carry out tasks that violate federal or constitutional law.
“There is an independence that is necessary for this position. In this administration, I believe that independence is even more necessary,” said U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who called Sessions “a friend and someone I respect.” But, he added, “I believe his record raises doubts about whether he can curb unlawful overreach by this executive.”
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and a handful of other House Democrats marched in protest from the House side to the Senate floor, objecting to Warren’s reprimand and voicing opposition to Sessions’ confirmation.
But Republican colleagues defended Sessions.
“Jeff Sessions’ hearing in 1986 was an absolute ambush,” Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said of Sessions’ judgeship bid, which was torpedoed by claims that he targeting civil rights leaders for voting fraud prosecution. “He was unfairly attacked then, and he’s being unfairly attacked now.”
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) read tweets he received calling him an “Uncle Tim” and slurring with racial epithets for his endorsement of Sessions.
“The liberal left that speaks and desires for all of us to be tolerant, do not want anyone to be tolerant of anyone who disagrees with where they are coming from,” Scott said.