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Trump election: Top law job 'offered to Jeff Sessions' Trump election: Jeff Sessions picked for top law job
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump has asked Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions to be attorney general, US media report. Donald Trump has nominated his close conservative ally Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions as attorney general.
Mr Sessions a former prosecutor elected to the Senate in 1996, has been one of Mr Trump's closest allies throughout the campaign. In a statement, he called Mr Sessions a "world class legal mind".
Meanwhile, retired Lt-Gen Michael Flynn is understood to have accepted the position of national security adviser. Mr Sessions, a former prosecutor elected to the Senate in 1996, was turned down for a federal judgeship in 1986 because of alleged racist remarks.
Both men have courted controversy over their views. Mr Trump has yet to confirm the appointments himself. Conservative Republican Mike Pompeo has been nominated as CIA director and retired Lt-Gen Michael Flynn has been appointed national security adviser.
But transition officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told news agencies Mr Sessions and Mr Flynn had both been offered posts in the future administration. Mr Sessions said in a statement that he "enthusiastically" embraced President-elect Trump's vision for "one America and his commitment to equal justice under law".
Conservative Republican Mike Pompeo has been offered the role of CIA director, the sources added. "I look forward to fulfilling my duties with an unwavering dedication to fairness and impartiality," he said.
The people around President-elect TrumpThe people around President-elect Trump
Jeff Sessions dogged by racism claims
Mike Pompeo - America's likely new spymasterMike Pompeo - America's likely new spymaster
Michael Flynn - next US national security adviser
Kanye West: I would've voted for Trump
Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer, who is involved in the Trump presidential transition, would not confirm the reports on CNN, saying: "Until Donald Trump says it, it's not official."
Mr Sessions, 69, and Gen Flynn, 57, have been close allies of Mr Trump since the early days of his campaign and share many of his views.Mr Sessions, 69, and Gen Flynn, 57, have been close allies of Mr Trump since the early days of his campaign and share many of his views.
Mr Sessions opposes any path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and was an enthusiastic backer of Mr Trump's pledge to build a wall on the border with Mexico.Mr Sessions opposes any path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and was an enthusiastic backer of Mr Trump's pledge to build a wall on the border with Mexico.
In 1986, Mr Sessions was nominated by then-President Ronald Reagan for a federal judgeship, but was rejected because of allegations that he had made racist remarks. He strongly denied the claims.In 1986, Mr Sessions was nominated by then-President Ronald Reagan for a federal judgeship, but was rejected because of allegations that he had made racist remarks. He strongly denied the claims.
Gen Flynn, a vocal critic of the Obama administration since he was ousted as director of the Defence Intelligence Agency in 2014, agrees with Mr Trump on renegotiating the Iran nuclear deal, strengthening ties with Russia and intensifying the fight against Islamic extremists.Gen Flynn, a vocal critic of the Obama administration since he was ousted as director of the Defence Intelligence Agency in 2014, agrees with Mr Trump on renegotiating the Iran nuclear deal, strengthening ties with Russia and intensifying the fight against Islamic extremists.
He once tweeted that fear of Muslims was "rational".He once tweeted that fear of Muslims was "rational".
Michael Flynn - next US national security adviser
Kanye West: I would've voted for Trump
Mr Trump's choice of Mr Sessions and Gen Flynn, and also of Steve Bannon as a top White House adviser, were praised on Twitter by David Duke, former leader of the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan group.
Kansas Congressman Mr Pompeo, 52, is a supporter of the conservative Tea Party movement. He originally backed Marco Rubio as the Republican candidate but supported Mr Trump after he won the nomination.Kansas Congressman Mr Pompeo, 52, is a supporter of the conservative Tea Party movement. He originally backed Marco Rubio as the Republican candidate but supported Mr Trump after he won the nomination.
Mr Pompeo has also been a fierce critic of President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, tweeting on Thursday: "I look forward to rolling back this disastrous deal with the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism."Mr Pompeo has also been a fierce critic of President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, tweeting on Thursday: "I look forward to rolling back this disastrous deal with the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism."
In other developments:In other developments: