Posted on 01/10/2017 8:09:46 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Sen. Jeff Sessions began the defense of his nomination for Donald Trump's attorney general by emphasizing a theme of enforcing law and order and strongly pushed back against allegations of racism in his long career.
Sessions also diverged from his prepared remarks to address "head on" the very allegations that helped sink his nomination for a judgeship in 1986.
"I abhor the Klan and its hateful ideology," Sessions said. "I never declared the NAACP was un-American." Sessions also pledged to recuse himself from all investigations involving Hillary Clinton based on inflammatory comments he made during a "contentious" campaign season, and defended his views of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling on abortion.
"I've given that thought, I believe the proper thing for me to do would be to recuse myself from questions involving those kinds of investigations involving Secretary Clinton that were raised during the campaign and could be otherwise connected to it," Sessions said, upon questioning by Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley.
"I believe that would be best for the country because we can never have a political dispute turn into a criminal dispute," Sessions said.
Sessions said he would respect the 1973 Supreme Court decision allowing abortion and the more recent Supreme Court decision allowing same-sex marriage -- even if he doesn't agree with the court's decisions.
"I believe it violated the Constitution," Sessions said in response to a question from Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein about whether he stands by his past statements calling Roe a "colossal" mistake.
"It is the law of the land, it has been settled for some time. ... I will respect it and follow it," Sessions said.
Likewise, Sessions said same-sex marriage is settled.
"The Supreme Court has ruled on that, the dissents dissented vigorously, but it was 5-4
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
LUKE: 12:11
When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.
I had to turn it off before Feinstein was even finished with her open statement.
Can’t watch it. Good Luck Sessions and thank you for putting yourself through this nightmare.
He said he’d recuse himself regarding anything regarding Clinton and the Clinton foundation.
I found the urge to hurl the remote at the tv to be almost irresistible.
Why should he recuse himself? Who would stand in his place?
Independent Council?
This is a one and done.
Even Leahy is going light.
Sessions was coached well and has a decent history.
[ow can you consider an issue to be “settled” by a 5-4 decision that overturns hundreds of years years of almost worldwide consensus? And, regarding Roe v. Wade, why should we honor a “colossal mistake”? Aren’t “colossal mistakes” the sorts of things that you try to fix? ]
You are referring to decisions made by the SCOTUS, 1/3 of our branched of government. They declared both the law.
Disagree or not. That’s how checks and balances work, good or bad.
It is not the position of the USAG to determine what is law and what isn’t. It’s his/her position to follow it.
I don't like it either, but maybe it's because he knows that that horrible decision can, and probably will, be overturned by an upcoming, constitutional judiciary? If he can't defer to the decision of this current panel of judges, how can he defer to a new panel reversing the decision?
Rudy Giuliani.
A couple of idiot protesters just started screaming during the hearings.
Wait a minute, have you ever heard of a democrat AG recusing himself/herself for any reason? Why would Sessions say that? To appease the left? If that is the case we don’t need him and Trump should appoint someone that will stand up for the rule of law! Enough of this appeasement crap!
He said because he took a position during the campaign that was public and it was suggested a deputy attorney general would most likely take the case. The protestors are outrageous today btw. One called him a pig.
“I don’t like those answers at all, especially the one on gay marriage”
To be fair this is how he has to respond. It is his role the enforce the law. As AG he can urge for a change in the law but must respect as it is until such time that it is corrected. Unless of course you are a left wing hack like Lynch.
Name of those that give passes to these idiots should be disclosed.
Trump should have picked Rudy for AG
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