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| Jeff Sessions is Trump's choice for attorney general, reports say | Jeff Sessions is Trump's choice for attorney general, reports say |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Donald Trump has offered Republican senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama for the job of US attorney general, according to multiple media reports. | Donald Trump has offered Republican senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama for the job of US attorney general, according to multiple media reports. |
| The New York Times, CBS News and Bloomberg, among others, all reported on Friday that the rightwing, anti-immigration senator was the president-elect’s pick for the job. | The New York Times, CBS News and Bloomberg, among others, all reported on Friday that the rightwing, anti-immigration senator was the president-elect’s pick for the job. |
| Separately, the Washington Post and Reuters reported that Republican congressman Mike Pompeo had been offered the job of CIA chief. Pompeo is a vocal critic of the Iran nuclear deal, and a supporter of NSA bulk data collection. | Separately, the Washington Post and Reuters reported that Republican congressman Mike Pompeo had been offered the job of CIA chief. Pompeo is a vocal critic of the Iran nuclear deal, and a supporter of NSA bulk data collection. |
| Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer, who is involved in the Trump presidential transition, would not confirm the reports about Sessions. “Until Donald Trump says it, it’s not official,” Spicer told CNN. | Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer, who is involved in the Trump presidential transition, would not confirm the reports about Sessions. “Until Donald Trump says it, it’s not official,” Spicer told CNN. |
| On Thursday, Trump’s team announced that the president-elect met Sessions at Trump Tower in New York the day before. Sessions is a long-time, rightwing member of the Senate. | On Thursday, Trump’s team announced that the president-elect met Sessions at Trump Tower in New York the day before. Sessions is a long-time, rightwing member of the Senate. |
| “The president-elect has been unbelievably impressed with Senator Sessions and his phenomenal record as Alabama’s attorney general and US attorney,” a spokesperson said. “It is no wonder the people of Alabama re-elected him without opposition.” | “The president-elect has been unbelievably impressed with Senator Sessions and his phenomenal record as Alabama’s attorney general and US attorney,” a spokesperson said. “It is no wonder the people of Alabama re-elected him without opposition.” |
| Sessions has served in the Senate since 1997, and served as Alabama’s attorney general for two years before that. The lawmaker has the rare distinction of once being passed over for a federal judgeship, because of racist comments he allegedly made. | Sessions has served in the Senate since 1997, and served as Alabama’s attorney general for two years before that. The lawmaker has the rare distinction of once being passed over for a federal judgeship, because of racist comments he allegedly made. |
| During Sessions’ confirmation hearing in 1986, lawmakers heard testimony that Sessions called respected civil rights organizations “communist inspired”. In another set of testimony, a prosecutor told Congress that Sessions had said he thought the Ku Klux Klan was “OK until I found out they smoked pot”. Sessions said the comment was a joke, but his judgeship was rejected. | |
| Since working in the Senate, Sessions has proved one of the most anti-immigration members of the legislature. | |
| Last year, he wrote a 25-page report blaming job losses and welfare dependency on immigration. The Immigration Handbook for the New Republican Majority argued for limiting work visas and “establishing firm control over entry and exit in the United States”. | Last year, he wrote a 25-page report blaming job losses and welfare dependency on immigration. The Immigration Handbook for the New Republican Majority argued for limiting work visas and “establishing firm control over entry and exit in the United States”. |
| “For decades, the American people have begged and pleaded for a just and lawful system of immigration that serves their interests,” wrote Sessions. “But their demands are refused. For years, Americans have been scorned and mocked by the elite denizens of Washington and Wall Street for having legitimate concerns about how uncontrolled immigration impacts their jobs, wages, schools, hospitals, police departments, and communities.” | “For decades, the American people have begged and pleaded for a just and lawful system of immigration that serves their interests,” wrote Sessions. “But their demands are refused. For years, Americans have been scorned and mocked by the elite denizens of Washington and Wall Street for having legitimate concerns about how uncontrolled immigration impacts their jobs, wages, schools, hospitals, police departments, and communities.” |