Sessions might one of the Lieutenants of the Deep State. I suspected him the day he recused himself. I suspected Kelly as well. I have heard that those who served with him always said he was a pompous dick.
Back in the 1980s in Alabama...the Democratic machine ran out of steam, and the Republicans basically were carrying state politics. If you were a Democrat and wanted to get into some state office, you had to revert and go to pretending to being a Republican.
Even now, there’s probably over 20 individuals in Alabama....holding some type of office (Shelby is an example, as is the governor herself), who are Democrats at heart and pretend to be Republicans).