By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
US Senator Jefferson Beauregard “Jeff” Sessions, III (R-Alabama)is President-elect Donald J. Trump’s (R) pick to be the next Attorney General of the United States. While still controversial, Senator Sessions’ appointment continues to draw praise.
Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange (R) wrote, “Senator Sessions has the experience and leadership necessary to deliver on the vision for which millions of Americans cast their vote this November.” AG Strange also shared an endorsement written by Sen. Orin Hatch (R-Utah).
Sen. Orin Hatch wrote in the Washington Times, “Americans spoke resoundingly last month that they want our country to chart a new course. A newly-elected president’s first decisions are typically his Cabinet choices, and President-elect Trump is already charting that new course. Nominees such as Sen. Jeff Sessions to be attorney general show that Mr. Trump is serious about getting that job done.” “No attorney general in American history has had Mr. Sessions’ combination of hands-on experience in both criminal justice policy and its implementation. He was a front-line prosecutor for 18 years, 12 of them as United States Attorney. At his confirmation hearing in January, he will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on which he has served for 20 years.”
Sen. Hatch said, “The Senate is receiving letters endorsing Mr. Sessions’ nomination from those who know best what the job of attorney general requires. One letter from 10 former attorneys general and deputy attorneys general over the past three decades says that he is “a person of honesty and integrity” who is “superbly qualified by temperament, intellect, and experience to serve as this nation’s chief law enforcement officer.” Another letter from a bipartisan group of former DEA administrators praises Mr. Sessions’ commitment to “the just and fair enforcement of the laws that Congress has written” and concludes that “he is a protector of civil rights and defender of crime victims.””
Some Democrats have questioned Sessions views on race; however Alabama Senate Minority Leader Quinton Ross (D-Montgomery) told TV station WSFA, “I have worked with Sen. Sessions on education policy and securing federal funding for our schools. Additionally, I have spent time with him at the Magic City Classic and at Heritage Barbershop in Montgomery. I know him personally and all of my encounters with him have been for the greater good of Alabama.”
Ross said, “We’ve spoken about everything from Civil Rights to race relations and we agree that as Christian men our hearts and minds are focused on doing right by all people,” Ross said. “We both acknowledge that there are no perfect men, but we continue to work daily to do the right thing for all people.”
Democratic House Minority Leader Craig Ford also endorsed Senator Sessions yesterday.
If Sessions is confirmed by the Senate his seat will become vacant.
Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange (R) has already announced that he will seek the seat in the special election, no matter who Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) appoints.
Sessions has previously served Alabama as US Attorney, Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, and Alabama Attorney General. Sessions was elected to the Senate in 1996 replacing the retiring Sen. Howell Heflin (D).
