Nomination of Sen. Jeff Session as Attorney General has received approval from Senate Judiciary Committee even after boycott from Democrats. The strict party-line vote was able to move the nomination process to full Senate members.
The strict party-line vote was taken by Republicans on Wednesday, Jan. 1 after Senate Democrats vowed to boycott all policies and personnels in President Trump administration. Regardless its bitter opposition, Democrats could not prevent the 11-9 decision in the Judiciary Committee. Following the approval, nomination of Senator Sessions will move to full Senate consideration, USA Today reported.
The full session will determine the appointment of Sessions to become the 84th attorney general of the United States.
Sessions is expected to revamp Justice Department in supporting the executive policies. President Trump has fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates few days ago. President fired her after she refused to defend presidential order of temporary refugee ban in the federal court.
Democrats have concern regarding Sen. Sessions independence as Attorney General, due to his stance as President Trump’s proponent. Other than that, Senator Al Franken (D) of Minnesota also raised questions about Sesions' involvement in some civil rights case date back in 1980’s, NBC News reported. Sessions was working as the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Alabama.
Democrats continued to attack Sessions on the second day of hearing. They questioned his previous record in regard to civil rights, health care for women and immigration. They also asked whether he will be able to be nonpartisan in the federal law enforcement, concerning his role in the President Trump’s campaign.
The relentless rant on Sessions from Democrats made the tensions in the Committee to raise. Senator John Cornyn (R) of Texas countered rhetoric from Franken saying the Minnesota Dems to act inappropriately. Later on, another Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz also criticized the way Franken addressed his question.
Following approval from Senate Judiciary Committee, the nomination of Sessions will go to full Senate for confirmation vote which is expected to be won by Republicans as the majority in the chamber. Watch the report from TIME, regarding the committee’s approval on Senator Sessions below:
