View source for Jeff Sessions

{{short description|American politician and attorney (born 1946)}}
{{redirect|Senator Sessions}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Jeff Sessions, official portrait.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2017
| office = 84th [[United States Attorney General]]
| president = [[Donald Trump]]
| deputy = {{ubl |[[Dana Boente]] (acting) |[[Rod Rosenstein]]}}
| term_start = February 9, 2017
| term_end = November 7, 2018
| predecessor = [[Loretta Lynch]]
| successor = [[William Barr]]
| jr/sr1 = United States Senator
| state1 = [[Alabama]]
| term_start1 = January 3, 1997
| term_end1 = February 8, 2017
| predecessor1 = [[Howell Heflin]]
| successor1 = [[Luther Strange]]
| office2 = 44th [[Attorney General of Alabama]]
| governor2 = [[Fob James]]
| term_start2 = January 16, 1995
| term_end2 = January 3, 1997
| predecessor2 = [[Jimmy Evans (politician)|Jimmy Evans]]
| successor2 = [[William H. Pryor Jr.]]
| office3 = [[United States Attorney]] for the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama|Southern District of Alabama]]
| president3 = {{ubl |[[Ronald Reagan]] |[[George H. W. Bush]] |[[Bill Clinton]]}}
| term_start3 = February 1981
| term_end3 = March 23, 1993
| predecessor3 = William Kimbrough
| successor3 = Don Foster
| birth_name = Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|12|24}}
| birth_place = [[Selma, Alabama]], U.S.
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Mary Blackshear|1969}}
| children = 3
| education = {{ubl |[[Huntingdon College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) |[[University of Alabama]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])}}
| signature = Jeff Sessions Signature.svg
| allegiance = 
| branch = {{tree list}}
* [[United States Army]]
** [[United States Army Reserve|Army Reserve]]
{{tree list/end}}
| serviceyears = 1973–1977
| rank = [[Captain (United States O-3)|Captain]]
| unit = 1184th United States Army Transportation Terminal Unit
| module = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Attorney General Jeff Sessions' First Message to Justice Department Employees.ogg |title=Sessions's voice |type=speech |description=Sessions delivering his first message to [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Justice Department]] employees as attorney general<br>Recorded February 10, 2017}}
}}
'''Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III''' (born December 24, 1946) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 84th [[United States attorney general]] from 2017 to 2018. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], he previously served as [[United States Senate|United States senator]] from [[Alabama]] from 1997 to 2017 before resigning that position to serve as attorney general in the first [[First presidency of Donald Trump|administration]] of President [[Donald Trump]]. Trump fired Sessions in 2018 due to his inaction and recusal from the Russian collusion probes.

From 1981 to 1993, Sessions served as the [[United States Attorney|U.S. attorney]] for the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama|Southern District of Alabama]]. In 1986, President [[Ronald Reagan]] nominated Sessions to a judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. After allegations of racism were made against him in testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, which Sessions denied, the committee voted against advancing his nomination to the Senate floor; the nomination was later withdrawn. Sessions was elected [[Attorney General of Alabama|attorney general of Alabama]] in 1994. In [[1996 United States Senate election in Alabama|1996]], he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and was re-elected in [[2002 United States Senate election in Alabama|2002]], [[2008 United States Senate election in Alabama|2008]] and [[2014 United States Senate election in Alabama|2014]]. During his Senate tenure, Sessions was considered one of the most [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] senators. His Senate voting record includes votes against [[Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006|comprehensive immigration reform]] (2006), the 2008 [[Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008|bank bailout]], the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]], the [[Affordable Care Act]] (2009) and criminal justice reform (2015).

Sessions was an early supporter of Trump's [[Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign|2016 presidential campaign]]; he was nominated by Trump for the post of U.S. Attorney General. He was confirmed and sworn in as attorney general in February 2017. In his confirmation hearings, Sessions stated under oath that he did not have contact with Russian officials during the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential campaign]] and that he was unaware of any contact between Trump campaign members and Russian officials. However, in March 2017, news reports revealed that Sessions had twice met with Russian ambassador [[Sergey Kislyak]] in 2016. Sessions later recused himself from any investigations into [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections]]. As attorney general, Sessions rescinded a memo issued by one of his predecessors, [[Eric Holder]], that had sought to curb [[mass incarceration]] by avoiding [[mandatory sentencing]] for drug crimes; he ordered federal prosecutors to begin seeking the maximum criminal charges possible. A staunch opponent of [[illegal immigration]], Sessions adopted a hard line on [[sanctuary city|sanctuary cities]] and told reporters that cities failing to comply with federal immigration policy would lose federal funding. He also played a key role in the implementation of the Trump administration family separation policy. Trump issued an [[Executive Order 13768|executive order revoking the cities' funding]], but that order was overturned by a federal court. Sessions also supported [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] prosecutions of [[medical marijuana]] providers.

On November 7, 2018, Sessions tendered his resignation at Trump's request following months of public and private conflict with President Trump over his recusal from investigations relating to Russian election interference. Sessions ran in the [[2020 United States Senate election in Alabama|2020 Senate election in Alabama]] to reclaim his old seat, but lost in the Republican primary to [[Tommy Tuberville]], who was supported by President Trump.

== Early life and early career ==
Sessions was born in [[Selma, Alabama]], on December 24, 1946,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography |title=Biography of U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama |website=senate.gov |publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=November 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126075602/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography |archive-date=November 26, 2016 }}</ref> the son of Jefferson Beauregard Sessions Jr. and the former Abbie Powe.<ref name=genref1>{{cite web |url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/sessions.htm |title=Ancestry of Jefferson Beauregard "Jeff" Sessions III |access-date=August 4, 2009 |first=Robert |last=Battle |publisher=[[Rootsweb]]  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811002405/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/sessions.htm |archive-date=August 11, 2011}}</ref> Sessions, his father, and his grandfather were named after [[Jefferson Davis]], a U.S. senator and president of the [[Confederate States of America]],<ref name="nytimesapuzzojeffsessionsalifelong">{{cite news |last1=Apuzzo |first1=Matt |last2=LaFraniere |first2=Sharon |title=Jeff Sessions, a Lifelong Outsider, Finds the Inside Track |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/08/us/politics/jeff-sessions-attorney-general.html |access-date=April 26, 2017 |work=The New York Times |date=January 8, 2017 |quote=Jefferson Beauregard Sessions{{spaces}}III was named after his father, who was named after his grandfather, who was named after the Confederate president Jefferson Davis, his parents once said. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512234719/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/08/us/politics/jeff-sessions-attorney-general.html |archive-date=May 12, 2017}}</ref> and [[P. G. T. Beauregard]], a veteran of the [[Mexican–American War]] and a Confederate general who oversaw the [[Battle of Fort Sumter]] that commenced the [[American Civil War]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tullos |first1=Allen |title=Alabama Getaway: The Political Imaginary and the Heart of Dixie |date=2011 |publisher=University of Georgia Press |isbn=978-0-8203-3961-0 |page=290 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3rI7mdw8LZ4C&pg=PA290 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210081905/https://books.google.com/books?id=3rI7mdw8LZ4C&pg=PA290 |archive-date=February 10, 2018}}</ref> His father owned a [[general store]] in [[Hybart, Alabama]], and later owned a farm equipment dealership.<ref>{{cite web |last=York |first=Byron |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/the-vindication-of-jeff-sessions/article/98839 |title=The Vindication of Jeff Sessions |website=Washington Examiner |date=May 31, 2009 |access-date=November 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210081905/http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/the-vindication-of-jeff-sessions/article/98839 |archive-date=February 10, 2018}}</ref> In 1964, Sessions became an [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]], and later, he earned the [[Distinguished Eagle Scout Award]] for his many years of service.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wong |first=Queenie |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/national/articles/2009/07/14/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-jeff-sessions |title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Jeff Sessions |website=US News |date=July 14, 2009 |access-date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119062236/http://www.usnews.com/news/national/articles/2009/07/14/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-jeff-sessions |archive-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref>

After attending [[Wilcox Central High School|Wilcox County High School]] in nearby [[Camden, Alabama|Camden]],<ref name="Judd">{{cite news |last1=Judd |first1=Alan |title=For Trump's AG nominee Jeff Sessions, race is great battle not fought |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/for-trump-nominee-jeff-sessions-race-great-battle-not-fought/9cpM4nR3NUFQTbuSPSDzXL/ |access-date=May 20, 2019 |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=February 8, 2017 |quote=At Wilcox County High School, Sessions graduated in the class of 1965. He had never attended school with a black child.}}</ref> Sessions studied at [[Huntingdon College]] in Montgomery, graduating with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in 1969. He was active in the [[Young Republicans]], the marching band and was student body president.<ref name="CQPress">{{cite web |url=http://www.cqpress.com/ls/pia/pdfs/107/aljr-2000.pdf |title=Sen. Jeff Sessions |work=[[CQ's Politics in America]]: 107th Congress |date=2000 |publisher=[[CQ Press]]/Sage Publications |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006094234/http://www.cqpress.com/ls/pia/pdfs/107/aljr-2000.pdf|archive-date=October 6, 2014 |access-date=November 15, 2016}}</ref> Sessions attended the [[University of Alabama School of Law]] and graduated with a [[Juris Doctor]] in 1973.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/law-jan-june09-sessions_05-26 |title=Key Player: Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. &#124; Online NewsHour |publisher=PBS |date=May 26, 2009 |access-date=November 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116225412/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/law-jan-june09-sessions_05-26/ |archive-date=November 16, 2016}}</ref>

Sessions entered the [[Practice of law|private practice of law]] in [[Russellville, Alabama|Russellville]] and later in [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]].<ref name="BDUSC" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ruble |first1=Joe |title=Alabama Senator Sessions stumps for Trump in Florida |url=http://www.news965.com/news/news/local/alabama-senator-sessions-stumps-trump-florida/ns2Yp/ |work=News 96.5 WDBO |date=November 1, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116022546/http://www.news965.com/news/news/local/alabama-senator-sessions-stumps-trump-florida/ns2Yp/ |archive-date=November 16, 2016}}</ref> He also served in the Army Reserve in the 1970s with the rank of captain.<ref name="BDUSC">{{cite encyclopedia |title=SESSIONS, Jefferson Beauregard III (Jeff) |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=s001141 |dictionary=[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]] |access-date=May 10, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527001737/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=s001141 |archive-date=May 27, 2016}}</ref>

== U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama (1981–1993) ==

Sessions served as an [[Assistant United States Attorney|assistant United States attorney]] in the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama|Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama]] beginning in 1975. In 1981, President Reagan nominated him to be the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. The Senate [[Advice and consent|confirmed]] him and he held that position for twelve years. In 1993, Sessions resigned his post after Democrat [[Bill Clinton]] was elected President of the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/erry-2018/11/efe8d01b5f6168/jeff-sessions-resigns-whats-ne.html|title=Jeff Sessions resigns: What's next for Mueller investigation? Alabama Senate race? What we know|website=AL.com|last=Gray|first=Jeremy|date=November 8, 2018|access-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref>

Sessions's office filed civil rights charges in the 1981 killing of [[Michael Donald]], a young [[African Americans|African American]] man who was murdered in [[Mobile, Alabama]], by a pair of [[Ku Klux Klan]] members.<ref>{{cite news |title=Donald Trump offers Jeff Sessions attorney general post |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-offers-jeff-sessions-attorney-general-post/ |work=[[CBS News]] |date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119125607/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-offers-jeff-sessions-attorney-general-post/ |archive-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref><ref name="abc-jeff-sessions-civil-rights" /> Sessions's office did not prosecute the case, as homicide is prosecuted by the state government, but both men were arrested and convicted.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alabama Judge Overrules Jury, Sentences a Klansman to Death |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/02/03/us/alabama-judge-overrules-jury-sentences-a-klansman-to-death.html |access-date=November 19, 2016 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 3, 1984 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120031114/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/02/03/us/alabama-judge-overrules-jury-sentences-a-klansman-to-death.html |archive-date=November 20, 2016}}</ref>

In 1985, Sessions prosecuted three African American community organizers in the [[Black Belt (region of Alabama)|Black Belt of Alabama]], including [[Martin Luther King Jr.]]'s former aide [[Albert Turner (civil rights activist)|Albert Turner]], for [[Voter impersonation|voter fraud]], alleging tampering with 14 absentee ballots. The prosecution stirred charges of selective prosecution of black voter registration. The defendants, known as the Marion Three, were acquitted of all charges by a jury after three hours of deliberation. Historian [[Wayne Flynt]] told ''[[The Washington Post]]'' he regarded concerns about tactics employed in the 1984 election and by Turner in particular as legitimate, but also noted Sessions had no history of advocating for black voter rights before 1984.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Michelle Ye Hee |title=The facts about the voter fraud case that sank Jeff Sessions' bid for a judgeship |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/11/28/the-facts-about-the-voter-fraud-case-that-sunk-jeff-sessionss-bid-for-a-judgeship/ |access-date=November 28, 2016 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=November 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128123208/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/11/28/the-facts-about-the-voter-fraud-case-that-sunk-jeff-sessionss-bid-for-a-judgeship/ |archive-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref><ref name=newrepublicNOV16>{{Cite news |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/61363/closed-sessions |title=Closed Sessions |last=[[Sarah Wildman]] |date=December 29, 2002 |magazine=[[The New Republic]] |access-date=November 19, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118170402/https://newrepublic.com/article/61363/closed-sessions |archive-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref> Interviewed in 2009, Sessions said he remained convinced that he did the right thing, but admitted he "failed to make the case".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hemingway |first1=Mark |title=The Court Is in Sessions |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/227464/court-sessions-mark-hemingway |access-date=November 19, 2016 |work=National Review |date=May 8, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119184003/http://www.nationalreview.com/article/227464/court-sessions-mark-hemingway |archive-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref>

== Failed nomination for federal trial court judgeship (1986) ==

In 1986, Reagan nominated Sessions to be a [[United States federal judge|United States district judge]] of the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama]].<ref name="Sessions The Guardian">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/may/05/jeff-sessions-arlen-specter-judiciary-committee |title=Jeff Sessions's chequered past |author=Wildman, Sarah |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=May 5, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120052144/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/may/05/jeff-sessions-arlen-specter-judiciary-committee |archive-date=January 20, 2017}}</ref> Sessions's judicial nomination was recommended and actively backed by Republican Alabama senator [[Jeremiah Denton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/03/29/judicial-nomination-in-deep-trouble/ |title=Judicial Nomination 'In Deep Trouble |first=Glen |last=Elsasser |work=Chicago Tribune |date=March 29, 1986 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819084438/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-03-29/news/8601230282_1_jeff-sessions-white-house-sessions-remark |archive-date=August 19, 2014}}</ref> A substantial majority of the [[American Bar Association]] Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, which rates nominees to the federal bench, rated Sessions "qualified", with a minority voting that Sessions was "not qualified".<ref name=Goldman_1999_p309>{{cite book |last=Goldman |first=Sheldon |author-link=Sheldon Goldman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EIN4HFLG6eMC |title=Picking Federal Judges |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |year=1999 |page=309 |isbn=978-0-300-08073-5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414101008/https://books.google.com/books?id=EIN4HFLG6eMC |archive-date=April 14, 2016}}</ref> His nomination was opposed by the NAACP, the [[Leadership Conference on Civil Rights]], and [[People for the American Way]].<ref name=newrepublicNOV16 />

At Sessions's confirmation hearings before the [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Senate Judiciary Committee]], four Department of Justice lawyers who had worked with Sessions testified that he made racially offensive remarks. One of those lawyers, J. Gerald Hebert, testified that Sessions had referred to the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] (NAACP) and the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] (ACLU) as "un-American" and "[[Communism|Communist]]-inspired" (Sessions said he was referring to their support of the [[Sandinistas]]<ref name="by1" />) and that they did more harm than good by trying to force civil rights "down the throats of people".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mascaro |first1=Lisa |title=Trump picks Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-sessions-attorney-general-20161118-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2016 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118233320/http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-sessions-attorney-general-20161118-story.html |archive-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref> Hebert, a civil rights lawyer,<ref>{{cite news |title=The Arena: – Gerald Hebert Bio |url=http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/gerald_hebert.html |work=[[Politico]] |access-date=November 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112001256/http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/gerald_hebert.html |archive-date=November 12, 2016}}</ref> said that he did not consider Sessions a racist, and that Sessions "has a tendency sometimes to just say something, and I believe these comments were along that vein."<ref name=cnngl>{{cite news |last1=Glover |first1=Scott |title=Allegations of racism against Sessions: a closer look |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/18/politics/jeff-sessions-racism-allegations/index.html |access-date=November 19, 2016 |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119002420/http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/18/politics/jeff-sessions-racism-allegations/index.html |archive-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref> Hebert also said that Sessions had called a white civil rights attorney "maybe" a "disgrace to his race". Sessions said he did not recall making that remark and he did not believe it.<ref name="by1">{{cite news |last1=York |first1=Byron |title=How Joe Biden twisted the case against Jeff Sessions |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2608342 |access-date=November 29, 2016 |work=Washington Examiner |date=November 28, 2016}}</ref>

[[Thomas Figures]], a black assistant U.S. attorney, testified that Sessions said he thought the [[Ku Klux Klan]] was "OK until I found out they smoked [[cannabis|pot]]". Sessions later said that the comment was not serious, but did apologize for it, saying that he considered the Klan to be "a force for hatred and bigotry".<ref name=Rudin2009 /> Barry Kowalski, a prosecutor in the civil rights division, also heard the remark and testified that prosecutors working such a gruesome case sometimes "resort to operating room humor and that is what I considered it to be". Another DOJ lawyer, Albert Glenn, said, "It never occurred to me that there was any seriousness to it."<ref name=rldef>{{cite news |last1=Lowry |first1=Rich |title=The Sessions Smear |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/jeff-sessions-attorney-general-smear-214601/ |access-date=January 6, 2017 |work=[[Politico]] |date=January 6, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106073303/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/jeff-sessions-attorney-general-smear-214601 |archive-date=January 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name="by1" /><ref name="cnngl" /><ref name=Rudin2009>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2009/05/specter_helped_defeat_sessions.html |title=Blog: Specter Helped Defeat Sessions In 1986 Judiciary Vote |access-date=August 4, 2009 |first=Ken |last=Rudin |author-link=Ken Rudin |date=May 5, 2009 |work=Political Junkie |author2=[[National Public Radio]] |publisher=NPR |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330194813/http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2009/05/specter_helped_defeat_sessions.html |archive-date=March 30, 2010}} ([[blog]])</ref> Figures testified that on one occasion, when the [[United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division|U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division]] sent the office instructions to investigate a case that Sessions had tried to close, Figures and Sessions "had a very spirited discussion regarding how the Hodge case should then be handled; in the course of that argument, Mr. Sessions threw the file on a table, and remarked, 'I wish I could decline on all of them{{'"}}, by which Figures said Sessions meant civil rights cases generally. Kowalski, however, testified that he believed "[Sessions] was eager to see that justice was done in the area of criminal civil rights prosecutions."<ref name="rldef" />

Figures also said that Sessions had called him "boy", which Sessions denied. Figures testified that two assistant prosecutors had also heard Sessions, including current federal judge [[Callie V. Granade|Ginny Granade]]. Granade denied this.<ref name="Sessions The Guardian" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Troyan |first1=Mary |last2=Lyman |first2=Brian |title=Black Belt voter fraud case in Alabama shaped Sen. Jeff Sessions' career |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/11/18/black-belt-voter-fraud-case-alabama-shaped-sen-jeff-sessions-career/94088186/ |access-date=November 19, 2016 |work=USA TODAY |date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118234402/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/11/18/black-belt-voter-fraud-case-alabama-shaped-sen-jeff-sessions-career/94088186/ |archive-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref> He also testified that "Mr. Sessions admonished me to 'be careful what you say to white folks.'" Sessions denied this.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Apuzzo |first1=Matt |title=Specter of Race Shadows Jeff Sessions, Potential Trump Nominee for Cabinet |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/17/us/politics/specter-of-race-shadows-jeff-sessions-potential-trump-nominee-for-cabinet.html |work=The New York Times |date=November 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207081545/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/17/us/politics/specter-of-race-shadows-jeff-sessions-potential-trump-nominee-for-cabinet.html |archive-date=February 7, 2017}}</ref> In 1992, Figures was charged with attempting to bribe a witness by offering $50,000 to a convicted drug dealer who was to testify against his client. Figures claimed the charge was retaliation for his role in blocking the Sessions nomination. Sessions denied this, saying that he recused himself from the case. Figures was ultimately acquitted.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Swaine |first1=Jon |last2=Laughland |first2=Oliver |title=Jeff Sessions accused of retaliation after claims of racism cost him a judgeship |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/22/jeff-sessions-racism-retaliation-donald-trump-douglas-wicks-thomas-figures |work=The Guardian |date=November 22, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303130345/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/22/jeff-sessions-racism-retaliation-donald-trump-douglas-wicks-thomas-figures |archive-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/08/us/retaliation-alleged-in-black-lawyer-s-indictment.html |last=Smothers |first=Ronald |newspaper=The New York Times |title=Retaliation Alleged in Black Lawyer's Indictment |date=November 8, 1992|access-date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119064130/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/08/us/retaliation-alleged-in-black-lawyer-s-indictment.html |archive-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lamothe |first1=Dan |title=Sen. Jeff Sessions is known for fighting immigration. Now he could lead Trump's Pentagon |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/11/09/sen-jeff-sessions-is-known-for-fighting-immigration-now-he-could-lead-trumps-pentagon/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=November 9, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109194951/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/11/09/sen-jeff-sessions-is-known-for-fighting-immigration-now-he-could-lead-trumps-pentagon/ |archive-date=November 9, 2016}}</ref>

Hebert, Kowalski and Daniel Bell, deputy chief of the criminal section in the Civil Rights Division, testified that they considered Sessions to have been more welcoming to the work of the Civil Rights Division than many other Southern [[United States Attorney|U.S. attorneys]] at the time.<ref name="by1" /><ref name="cnngl" /> Sessions has always defended his civil rights record, saying that "when I was [a U.S. attorney], I signed 10 pleadings attacking [[Racial segregation in the United States|segregation]] or the remnants of segregation, where we as part of the Department of Justice, we sought [[Desegregation in the United States|desegregation]] remedies."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/no_20090507_5499.php |title=Q&A Jeff Sessions: Sessions Says He's Looking For Judicial Restraint |series=Insider Interviews |website=National Journal |date=May 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515133825/http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/no_20090507_5499.php|archive-date=May 15, 2009|access-date=November 16, 2016}}</ref> Critics later argued that Sessions had exaggerated his involvement in civil rights cases. [[Michigan Law]] professor [[Samuel Bagenstos]], reviewing Sessions's claims, argued that "[a]ll this shows is that Sessions didn't completely refuse to participate in or have his name on pleadings in cases that the civil rights division brought during his tenure{{spaces}}... These four cases are awfully weak evidence of Sessions's supposed commitment to civil rights."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Serwer |first1=Adam |title=Did Jeff Sessions Actually Champion Desegregation? |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/12/which-schools-did-jeff-sessions-desegregate/509867/ |access-date=January 23, 2017 |work=The Atlantic |date=January 23, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126100615/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/12/which-schools-did-jeff-sessions-desegregate/509867/ |archive-date=January 26, 2017}}</ref>

[[Coretta Scott King]], the widow of [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] wrote to the Senate Judiciary Committee to oppose the nomination. In her letter, she wrote that "Mr. Sessions has used the awesome powers of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/01/10/read-the-letter-coretta-scott-king-wrote-opposing-sessionss-1986-federal-nomination/ |title=Read the letter Coretta Scott King wrote opposing Sessions's 1986 federal nomination |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214100307/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/01/10/read-the-letter-coretta-scott-king-wrote-opposing-sessionss-1986-federal-nomination/ |archive-date=February 14, 2017}}</ref>

On June 5, 1986, the committee voted 10–8 against recommending the nomination to the Senate floor, with Republican senators [[Charles Mathias]] of [[Maryland]] and [[Arlen Specter]] of [[Pennsylvania]] voting with the Democrats. It then split 9–9 on a vote to send Sessions's nomination to the Senate floor with no recommendation, this time with Specter in support. A majority was required for the nomination to proceed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Lena |title=Senate Panel Hands Reagan First Defeat On Nominee for Judgeship |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/06/us/senate-panel-hands-reagan-first-defeat-on-nominee-for-judgeship.html |access-date=January 2, 2014 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 6, 1986 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118005200/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/06/us/senate-panel-hands-reagan-first-defeat-on-nominee-for-judgeship.html |archive-date=January 18, 2014}}</ref> The pivotal votes against Sessions came from his home state's Democratic senator [[Howell Heflin]] of Alabama. Although Heflin had previously backed Sessions, he began to oppose Sessions after hearing testimony, concluding that there were "reasonable doubts" over Sessions's ability to be "fair and impartial". The nomination was withdrawn on July 31, 1986.<ref name=Goldman_1999_p309 />

Sessions became only the second nominee to the [[United States federal courts|federal judiciary]] in 48 years whose nomination was killed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.<ref name=Rudin2009 /> He was quoted then as saying that the Senate on occasion had been insensitive to the rights and reputation of nominees.<ref name="USAToday">Kelley, Matt (May 29, 2009). [https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-05-28-sessions_N.htm Supreme Court pick Sotomayor under fire for comments] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230090844/http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-05-28-sessions_N.htm |date=December 30, 2011 }}, ''USA Today''.</ref> A law clerk from the U.S. District Court in Mobile who had worked with Sessions later acknowledged the confirmation controversy, but stated that he observed Sessions as "a lawyer of the highest ethical and intellectual standards".<ref>Williams, Victor (March 1, 2010). [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/victor-williams/new-gang-of-14-applying-l_b_480869.html "How Obama Should Bypass the Appointment Obstructionism"]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306065906/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/victor-williams/new-gang-of-14-applying-l_b_480869.html |date=March 6, 2010 }}, ''Huffington Post''.</ref>

When Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania left the GOP to join the Democratic Party on April 28, 2009, Sessions was selected to be the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee. At that time, Specter said that his vote against Sessions's 1986 federal judicial nomination had been a mistake, adding that he had later found Sen. Sessions to be an "egalitarian".<ref>Raju, Manu (May 5, 2009). [https://www.politico.com/story/2009/05/specter-regrets-no-vote-on-sessions-022131 "Specter regrets 'no' vote on Sessions"] , ''Politico''.</ref>

== Alabama attorney general (1995–1997) ==
[[File:FEMA - 9349 - Photograph by Jocelyn Augustino taken on 03-09-1998 in Alabama.jpg|thumb|Senators Sessions and [[Richard Shelby]] with FEMA Director [[James Lee Witt]], 1998]]
[[File:Sessions and Shelby meet Bush.jpg|thumb|Senators Sessions and [[Richard Shelby]] meet with President [[George W. Bush]], 2004]]
Sessions was elected [[Attorney General of Alabama|attorney general of Alabama]] in November 1994, unseating incumbent Democrat [[Jimmy Evans (politician)|Jimmy Evans]] with 57% of the vote. The harsh criticism he had received from Senator [[Ted Kennedy]], who called him a "throw-back to a shameful era" and a "disgrace", was considered to have won him the support of Alabama conservatives.

As attorney general, Sessions defended the state in a litigation that challenged the funding system for Alabama's public schools. The litigation resulted in the creation of a new funding system after "Judge Eugene W. Reese found the state's education funding unconstitutional and ordered lawmakers to come up with a system to remedy inequities between rich and poor schools."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-jeff-sessions-helped-kill-equitable-school-funding-in-alabama |title=How Jeff Sessions Helped Kill Equitable School Funding in Alabama |last=Gabrielson |first=Ryan |date=January 30, 2017 |newspaper=[[ProPublica]] |access-date=January 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131002646/https://www.propublica.org/article/how-jeff-sessions-helped-kill-equitable-school-funding-in-alabama |archive-date=January 31, 2017}}</ref><ref name=al1>{{cite news |last1=Sharp |first1=John |title=From courtrooms to Capitol Hill: The evolution of Jeff Sessions |url=http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2016/11/from_goat_hill_to_capitol_hill.html |access-date=November 28, 2016 |work=AL.com |date=November 27, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318074606/http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2016/11/from_goat_hill_to_capitol_hill.html |archive-date=March 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sugrue |first1=Thomas J. |title=Jeff Sessions' Other Civil Rights Problem |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/opinion/jeff-sessions-other-civil-rights-problem.html |access-date=November 28, 2016 |work=The New York Times |date=November 21, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128054811/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/opinion/jeff-sessions-other-civil-rights-problem.html |archive-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref>

As attorney general in 1995, Sessions defended a newly passed state law denying access to meeting space and student group funding for [[Gay–straight alliance|Gay-Straight Alliances]] at the state's public universities, stating that "an organization that professes to be {{sic|comprised |hide=y|of}} homosexuals and/or lesbians may not receive state funding or use state-supported facilities to foster or promote those illegal, sexually deviant activities defined in the sodomy and sexual misconduct laws."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gibbons |first=Chip |date=2016-11-29 |title=What Does Jeff Sessions Mean for Civil Liberties? |url=https://www.rightsanddissent.org/news/what-does-jeff-sessions-mean-for-civil-liberties/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=Defending Rights & Dissent |language=en-US}}</ref> The U.S. District court ruled against the state law as a violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in ''Gay Lesbian Bisexual Alliance v. Sessions'', 917 F. Supp. 1548 (1996).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/917/1548/2140263/ |title=Gay Lesbian Bisexual Alliance v. Sessions, 917 F. Supp. 1548 (M.D. Ala. 1996) |website=Justia US Law |date=January 29, 1996 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119061203/http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/917/1548/2140263/ |archive-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref>

== U.S. Senate (1997–2017) ==

[[File:Jeff Sessions official portrait.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Official photo of Sessions as Senator, 2004]]
In [[1996 United States Senate election in Alabama|1996]], Sessions won the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, after a runoff, and then defeated Democrat [[Roger Bedford]] 53%–46% in the November general election.<ref name="CQPress" /> He succeeded Democrat [[Howell Heflin]], who had retired after 18 years in the Senate, making his victory a Republican pickup in the Senate.

In [[Impeachment trial of Bill Clinton|the February 1999 impeachment trial]], Sessions voted to convict President [[Bill Clinton]] on both [[Article of impeachment|articles]] of [[Federal impeachment in the United States|impeachment]], for [[perjury]] and [[obstruction of justice]]. However Clinton was acquitted on both charges by the Senate.

Following the [[Columbine High School massacre]] in April 1999, Sessions took part in the Senate's Subcommittee that investigated the massacre. Sessions blamed violent [[video game]]s, movies and music, especially that of [[Marilyn Manson]], and parts of culture for the actions of the [[Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold|two shooters]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cherkis |first1=Jason |title=Sen. Jeff Sessions Blamed Culture, Not Guns, For Columbine Massacre |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jeff-sessions-guns-columbine_n_5894d54de4b0c1284f25dd10 |access-date=September 9, 2021 |work=[[HuffPost]] |date=February 3, 2017}}</ref>

[[File:US Navy 040416-N-5821W-001 Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss and Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions talk to Sailors.jpg|thumb|Senators Sessions and [[Saxby Chambliss]] talk to sailors, [[Naval Air Station Sigonella|NAS Sigonella]], Italy, 2004]]
In [[2002 United States Senate election in Alabama|2002]], Sessions won reelection by defeating Democratic state auditor [[Susan Parker]]. In [[2008 United States Senate election in Alabama|2008]], Sessions defeated Democratic [[Alabama Senate|state senator]] [[Vivian Davis Figures]] (sister-in-law of Thomas Figures, the assistant U.S. attorney who testified at Sessions's judicial confirmation hearing) to win a third term. Sessions received 63% of the vote to Figures's 37%. Sessions successfully sought a fourth term in [[2014 United States Senate election in Alabama|2014]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Jeff Sessions Wins Alabama Senate Race 2014: Republican Re-Elected In Uncontested Race |first=Thomas |last=Barrabi |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/jeff-sessions-wins-alabama-senate-race-2014-republican-re-elected-uncontested-race-1718947/ |newspaper=International Business Times |date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=December 4, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141130041029/http://www.ibtimes.com/jeff-sessions-wins-alabama-senate-race-2014-republican-re-elected-uncontested-race-1718947 |archive-date=November 30, 2014}}</ref> In 2014, Sessions was uncontested in the Republican primary and was only opposed in the general election by write-in Democratic candidate Victor Sanchez Williams.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2014/08/17/arkansas-native-proposes-challenge-to-unopposed-republican-senator-in-alabama|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921100024/https://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2014/08/17/arkansas-native-proposes-challenge-to-unopposed-republican-senator-in-alabama|title=Arkansas native proposes challenge to unopposed Republican senator in Alabama|first=Max|last=Brantley|date=August 17, 2014|archive-date=September 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fec.gov/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921101127/https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S4AL00091/?cycle=2014&election_full=True|title=WILLIAMS, VICTOR SANCHEZ – Candidate overview|archive-date=September 21, 2017|website=FEC.gov}}</ref><ref name="Stinson">Stinson, Jim (July 25, 2014). "[http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/07/jeff_sessions_makes_history_by.html Jeff Sessions makes history by being unopposed for U.S. Senate, and re-election campaign is in no hurry] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115215051/http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/07/jeff_sessions_makes_history_by.html |date=November 15, 2016 }}". ''Real-Time News''. AL.com. Retrieved November 15, 2016.</ref><ref>Kane, Paul (November 26, 2014). "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-chairman-fight-jeff-sessions-is-battling-his-perception-on-immigration-debate/2014/11/26/605187c4-73f8-11e4-a589-1b102c2f81d0_story.html In chairman fight, Jeff Sessions is battling his perception on immigration debate] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116163858/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-chairman-fight-jeff-sessions-is-battling-his-perception-on-immigration-debate/2014/11/26/605187c4-73f8-11e4-a589-1b102c2f81d0_story.html |date=November 16, 2016 }}". ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved November 15, 2016.</ref>

Sessions was only the second freshman Republican senator from Alabama since [[Reconstruction era of the United States|Reconstruction]] and gave Alabama two Republican senators, a first since Reconstruction. In 2002, he became the first Republican reelected to the Senate from Alabama since Reconstruction (given that his colleague [[Richard Shelby]], who won reelection as a Republican in [[1998 United States Senate election in Alabama|1998]], had previously run as a Democrat, switching parties in 1994).<ref name="Stinson" />

Sessions was the ranking Republican member on the Senate Budget Committee,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/sessions-presidents-budget-raises-taxes-176-trillion_784132.html |title=Sessions: President's Budget Raises Taxes $1.76 Trillion |work=[[The Weekly Standard]] |date=March 4, 2014 |access-date=June 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714152932/http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/sessions-presidents-budget-raises-taxes-176-trillion_784132.html |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> a former ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and a senior member of the [[Senate Armed Services Committee|Armed Services Committee]]. He also served on the [[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Environment and Public Works Committee]].

=== Campaign donors ===

According to [[OpenSecrets]], between 1995 and 2016, Sessions's largest donors came from the legal, health, real estate, and insurance industries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cycle=Career&type=I&cid=N00003062&newMem=N |title=Jeff Sessions: Campaign Finance/Money – Summary – Senate Career | publisher=[[OpenSecrets]]  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608022629/http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cycle=Career&type=I&cid=N00003062&newMem=N|archive-date=June 8, 2011}}</ref> From 1995 to 2016, the corporations employing donors who gave the most to his campaign were the [[Southern Company]] utility firm, the Balch & Bingham law firm, the [[Drummond Company]] coal mining firm, Collazo Enterprises, and [[Vulcan Materials]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2010&cid=N00003062&type=I |title=Jeff Sessions: Campaign Finance/Money – Top Donors – Senator 2010 |website=[[OpenSecrets]] |access-date=May 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703171640/http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2010&cid=N00003062&type=I|archive-date=July 3, 2010}}</ref>

=== Committee assignments ===
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]]'''
**[[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland|Subcommittee on Airland]]
**[[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower|Subcommittee on Seapower]]
**[[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces|Subcommittee on Strategic Forces]] (Chairman)
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on the Budget|Committee on the Budget]]'''<ref name="gpo.gov">{{cite web |url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CCAL-112scal-2011-05-12/pdf/CCAL-112scal-2011-05-12-pt2.pdf |title=Committee Assignments: Standing Committees |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106154946/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CCAL-112scal-2011-05-12/pdf/CCAL-112scal-2011-05-12-pt2.pdf |archive-date=November 6, 2012}}</ref>
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Committee on Environment and Public Works]]'''<ref name="gpo.gov" />
**[[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety|Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety]]
**[[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy|Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy]]
**[[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure]]
**[[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife|Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife]]
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Committee on the Judiciary]]'''
**[[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts|Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts]]
**[[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs|Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs]]
**[[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Refugees|Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Refugees]] (Chairman)
**[[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security|Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security]]
*[[United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control|International Narcotics Control Caucus]]

=== 2016 presidential election ===
[[File:Jeff Sessions by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg|thumb|Sessions speaking at a campaign event for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on August 31, 2016]]
[[File:Senator Jeff Sessions arrives before the 58th Presidential Inauguration Parade, Jan. 20, 2017.jpg|thumb|Sessions arriving at [[First inauguration of Donald Trump|Trump's inauguration]] on January 20, 2017]]
Sessions was an early supporter of the presidential candidacy of [[Donald Trump]], and was a major policy adviser to the Trump campaign, especially in regard to immigration and national security.<ref name="isb">{{cite news |last1=Stanley-Becker |first1=Isaac |title=In Trump's GOP, Sen. Jeff Sessions rockets from fringe to prime time |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-trumps-gop-sessions-rockets-from-the-fringe-to-prime-time/2016/07/18/1fc04d14-490b-11e6-acbc-4d4870a079da_story.html |access-date=July 19, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719142238/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-trumps-gop-sessions-rockets-from-the-fringe-to-prime-time/2016/07/18/1fc04d14-490b-11e6-acbc-4d4870a079da_story.html |archive-date=July 19, 2016}}</ref> He was on the [[2016 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection|short list to become Trump's running mate]] and was widely seen as a potential Cabinet secretary in a Trump administration.<ref name="isb" />

Sessions donned a "[[Make America Great Again]]" cap at a Trump rally in August 2015, and [[Stephen Miller (political operative)|Stephen Miller]], Sessions's long-time communications director, joined the Trump campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Donald Trump Could Do Something Unprecedented In Modern Elections |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-congressional-endorsements_us_56a91c12e4b0947efb66599a |work=The Huffington Post |access-date=January 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128033053/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-congressional-endorsements_us_56a91c12e4b0947efb66599a |archive-date=January 28, 2016|date=January 27, 2016 |last1=Fuller |first1=Matt |last2=Baldwin |first2=Robert III}}</ref> On February 28, 2016, Sessions officially endorsed Trump for president. Session's endorsement further legitimized Trump's campaign, as he was the first and only sitting U.S. Senator to endorse him during the primary. Sessions's and [[Rudy Giuliani]]'s appearance was a staple at Trump campaign rallies.<ref>{{cite news |title=After subdued trip to Mexico, Donald Trump talks tough on immigration in Phoenix |date=September 1, 2016 |first1=Joshua |last1=Partlow |first2=Sean |last2=Sullivan |first3=Karen |last3=DeYoung |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-lands-in-mexico-for-last-minute-meeting-with-president-pena-nieto/2016/08/31/6e1a9f8c-6f8f-11e6-8533-6b0b0ded0253_story.html |quote=Trump was joined in the meeting by former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, who have become fixtures at his campaign rallies. |access-date=August 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826120008/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-lands-in-mexico-for-last-minute-meeting-with-president-pena-nieto/2016/08/31/6e1a9f8c-6f8f-11e6-8533-6b0b0ded0253_story.html |archive-date=August 26, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Uncorroborated Russian communications intercepted by U.S. intelligence agencies discuss Ambassador [[Sergey Kislyak]] meeting privately with Sessions at the [[Mayflower Hotel]] during a Trump campaign event in April 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Apuzzo |first1=Matt |last2=Rosenberg |first2=Matthew |title=Sessions Is Likely to Be Grilled on Reports of Meeting With Russian Envoy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/us/politics/sessions-is-likely-to-be-grilled-on-reports-of-meeting-with-russian-envoy.html |access-date=June 15, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 13, 2017 |page=A11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615033348/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/us/politics/sessions-is-likely-to-be-grilled-on-reports-of-meeting-with-russian-envoy.html |archive-date=June 15, 2017}}</ref>

==== Transition ====
[[File:Jeff Sessions hearing swearing in.jpg|right|thumb|Sessions being sworn in at his confirmation hearing on January 10, 2017]]

During the [[First presidential transition of Donald Trump|transition]], Sessions played a large role in appointments and policy preparation relative to space, [[NASA]] and related facilities in Alabama,<ref>{{cite news |first=Andy |last=Pasztor |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sen-jeff-sessions-exerts-wide-influence-over-trump-space-plans-1481673405 |title=Sen. Jeff Sessions Exerts Wide Influence Over Trump Space Plans |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]] |location=New York City |date=December 13, 2016 |url-access=subscription  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410213815/https://www.wsj.com/articles/sen-jeff-sessions-exerts-wide-influence-over-trump-space-plans-1481673405 |archive-date=April 10, 2017 |access-date=December 21, 2016}}</ref> while [[Peter Thiel]] advocated for [[private spaceflight]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Andy |last=Pasztor |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/thiel-others-push-for-trump-nasa-team-expansion-1482263645 |title=Thiel Pushes to Add Commercial-Space Backers to Trump NASA Team |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |publisher=Dow Jones & Company |location=New York City |date=December 13, 2016 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220204218/http://www.wsj.com/articles/thiel-others-push-for-trump-nasa-team-expansion-1482263645 |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |access-date=December 21, 2016}}</ref>

== Attorney General of the United States (2017–2018) ==
=== Nomination and confirmation ===

President-elect Trump announced on November 18, 2016, that he would nominate Sessions to be Attorney General of the United States.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/jeff-sessions-donald-trump-attorney-general.html |title=Donald Trump Selects Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General |date=November 18, 2016 |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119013532/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/jeff-sessions-donald-trump-attorney-general.html |archive-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref> Trump would later state in an August 22, 2018, interview with Fox News' [[Ainsley Earhardt]] that the only reason he nominated Sessions was because Sessions was an original supporter during his presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trump and Sessions feud over the direction of the Justice Department |author=Barrett, Devlin |author2=Wagner, John |author3=Kim, Seung Min |date=August 23, 2018 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-says-sessions-was-given-attorney-general-job-only-because-of-his-loyalty-during-campaign/2018/08/23/47d7c20c-a6c7-11e8-8fac-12e98c13528d_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823201932/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-says-sessions-was-given-attorney-general-job-only-because-of-his-loyalty-during-campaign/2018/08/23/47d7c20c-a6c7-11e8-8fac-12e98c13528d_story.html |archive-date=August 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The nomination engendered support and opposition from various groups and individuals. He was introduced by Senator [[Susan Collins (politician)|Susan Collins]] from Maine who said, "He's a decent individual with a strong commitment to the rule of law. He's a leader of integrity. I think the attacks against him are not well founded and are unfair."<ref name="Bangor Daily News">{{Cite news |url=http://bangordailynews.com/2017/01/10/politics/sen-susan-collins-introduces-trumps-ag-pick-jeff-sessions-in-confirmation-hearing/ |title=Collins introduces Trump's AG pick in confirmation hearing |last1=Zapotosky |first1=Matt |date=March 2, 2017 |last2=Horwitz |first2=Sari |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312144704/https://bangordailynews.com/2017/01/10/politics/sen-susan-collins-introduces-trumps-ag-pick-jeff-sessions-in-confirmation-hearing/ |archive-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref> More than 1,400 [[law school]] professors wrote a letter urging the Senate to reject the nomination.<ref>yaledailynews.com: [http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2017/01/17/law-professors-sign-letter-opposing-sessions/ ''Law professors sign letter opposing Sessions''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118143438/http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2017/01/17/law-professors-sign-letter-opposing-sessions/ |date=January 18, 2017 }} (January 17, 2017)</ref><ref name=horwitz>{{cite news |last=Horwitz |first=Sari |title=More than 1,100 law school professors nationwide oppose Sessions's nomination as attorney general |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 3, 2017 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/more-than-1100-law-school-professors-nationwide-oppose-sessionss-nomination-as-attorney-general/2017/01/03/dbf55750-d1cc-11e6-a783-cd3fa950f2fd_story.html| access-date = January 3, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103211036/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/more-than-1100-law-school-professors-nationwide-oppose-sessionss-nomination-as-attorney-general/2017/01/03/dbf55750-d1cc-11e6-a783-cd3fa950f2fd_story.html |archive-date=January 3, 2017}}</ref> A group of black pastors rallied in support of Sessions in advance of his confirmation hearing;<ref>{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Guy |title=Black pastors rally in Washington for AG nominee Jeff Sessions |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/09/black-pastors-rally-washington-ag-nominee-jeff-sessions/96367850/ |access-date=January 19, 2017 |newspaper=USA Today |date=January 9, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118201708/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/09/black-pastors-rally-washington-ag-nominee-jeff-sessions/96367850/ |archive-date=January 18, 2017}}</ref> his nomination was supported by [[Gerald A. Reynolds]], an African American former chairman of the [[United States Commission on Civil Rights]].<ref name=horwitz /> Six [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People|NAACP]] activists, including NAACP President [[Cornell William Brooks]], were arrested at a January 2017 [[sit-in]] protesting the nomination.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/01/04/naacp-president-among-those-arrested-after-sit-in-to-protest-trumps-nomination-of-sessions/ |title=NAACP president among those arrested at sit-in to protest Trump's nomination of Sessions |last=Wang |first=Amy B |date=January 4, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 4, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104230244/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/01/04/naacp-president-among-those-arrested-after-sit-in-to-protest-trumps-nomination-of-sessions/ |archive-date=January 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://time.com/4621628/naacp-president-jeff-sessions-sit-in/ |title=NAACP President Arrested After Sit-In Against Jeff Sessions |last=Chan |first=Melissa |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=January 4, 2017 |access-date=January 4, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104162115/http://time.com/4621628/naacp-president-jeff-sessions-sit-in/ |archive-date=January 4, 2017}}</ref>

On January 10, 2017, the [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Senate Judiciary Committee]] hearings on his nomination began<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/sessions-nomination-battle-kicks-capitol-hill-n705136 |title=Jeff Sessions, Trump's Pick for Attorney General, Testifies at Senate Confirmation Hearing |last=Rafferty |first=Andrew |date=January 10, 2017 |work=[[NBC News]] |access-date=January 10, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110201041/http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/sessions-nomination-battle-kicks-capitol-hill-n705136 |archive-date=January 10, 2017}}</ref> and were interrupted by protesters.<ref name="NPR">{{cite news |last1=Chang |first1=Alisa |title=Protesters Interrupt Confirmation Hearing For Sen. Sessions As Attorney General |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/01/10/509139945/protesters-interrupt-confirmation-hearing-for-sen-sessions-as-attorney-general |access-date=February 8, 2017 |publisher=National Public Radio |date=January 10, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210171355/http://www.npr.org/2017/01/10/509139945/protesters-interrupt-confirmation-hearing-for-sen-sessions-as-attorney-general |archive-date=February 10, 2017}}</ref><ref name="CSPAN">{{cite news |title=Attorney General Confirmation Hearing, Day 1 Part 1 |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?420932-1/attorney-general-nominee-jeff-sessions-testifies-confirmation-hearing |access-date=February 8, 2017 |agency=[[C-SPAN]] |date=January 10, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211080852/https://www.c-span.org/video/?420932-1%2Fattorney-general-nominee-jeff-sessions-testifies-confirmation-hearing |archive-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> The committee approved his nomination February{{spaces}}1 on an 11–9 party-line vote.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/senate-judiciary-jeff-sessions-234488 |title=Sessions clears committee on party-line 11–9 vote |last=Kim |first=Seung Min |date=February 1, 2017 |work=[[Politico]] |access-date=February 2, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201182700/http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/senate-judiciary-jeff-sessions-234488 |archive-date=February 1, 2017}}</ref> The nomination then went to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38807783 |title=Trump cabinet: Democrats boycott health and treasury picks |work=[[BBC News]] |date=January 31, 2017|access-date=January 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131135307/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38807783 |archive-date=January 31, 2017}}</ref> The vote on Sessions was delayed until after the vote on Secretary of Education nominee [[Betsy DeVos]], because his confirmation{{snd}}and subsequent resignation from the Senate{{snd}}would create a temporary vacancy, which otherwise would have jeopardized DeVos's narrow confirmation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/06/politics/devos-session-senate-vote-tuesday/ |title=DeVos, Sessions expected to be confirmed in tight votes |last1=Barrett |first1=Ted |last2=LoBianco |first2=Tom |date=February 6, 2017 |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=February 6, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206123644/http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/06/politics/devos-session-senate-vote-tuesday/ |archive-date=February 6, 2017}}</ref> On February 7, 2017, Senate majority leader [[Mitch McConnell]] stopped Senator [[Elizabeth Warren]] from reading statements opposing Sessions's nomination as federal judge that had been made by [[Ted Kennedy]] and [[Coretta Scott King]]. Warren was then officially rebuked per [[Standing Rules of the United States Senate, Rule XIX|Senate Rule XIX]] on a party-line vote for "impugning a fellow senator's character".<ref>{{cite news |title=Republicans vote to rebuke Warren, saying she impugned Sessions's character |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/02/07/republicans-vote-to-rebuke-elizabeth-warren-for-impugning-sessionss-character/ |access-date=February 8, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=February 7, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208040942/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/02/07/republicans-vote-to-rebuke-elizabeth-warren-for-impugning-sessionss-character/ |archive-date=February 8, 2017}}</ref> In silencing Warren, McConnell uttered the phrase "[[Nevertheless, she persisted]]"; the phrase was later adopted by the feminist movement in referring to women's persistence in breaking barriers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/02/08/nevertheless-she-persisted-becomes-new-battle-cry-after-mcconnell-silences-elizabeth-warren/|title='Nevertheless, she persisted' becomes new battle cry after McConnell silences Elizabeth Warren|last=Wang|first=Amy|date=February 8, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208154741/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/02/08/nevertheless-she-persisted-becomes-new-battle-cry-after-mcconnell-silences-elizabeth-warren/|archive-date=February 8, 2017|access-date=March 22, 2017}}</ref> A few hours later Senator [[Jeff Merkley]] read without interruption the same letter by King that Warren had attempted to read.<ref name="HuffPost02Feb17">{{cite news |last1=Shapiro |first1=Rebecca |title=Democrat Defies GOP, Reads Part Of Coretta Scott King's Letter On Senate Floor |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jeff-merkley-reads-part-of-coretta-scott-kings-letter-on-senate-floor_us_589adbc4e4b09bd304bedc35 |access-date=February 9, 2017 |agency=Huffington Post |date=February 8, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208134233/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jeff-merkley-reads-part-of-coretta-scott-kings-letter-on-senate-floor_us_589adbc4e4b09bd304bedc35 |archive-date=February 8, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Oregonian">{{cite news |title=Jeff Merkley reads Coretta Scott King's letter about Jeff Sessions on Senate floor (video) |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/02/jeff_merkley_reads_coretta_scott_king_letter_about_jeff_sessions.html |access-date=February 9, 2017 |newspaper=Oregonian |date=February 8, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212004557/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/02/jeff_merkley_reads_coretta_scott_king_letter_about_jeff_sessions.html |archive-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref>

On February 8, 2017, Sessions was confirmed as attorney general by a vote of 52 to 47.<ref name="CNN02feb17">{{cite news |last1=Killough |first1=Ashley |last2=LoBianco |first2=Tom |last3=Barrett |first3=Ted |title=Jeff Sessions confirmed to be the next attorney general |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/08/politics/jeff-sessions-vote-senate-slog/ |access-date=February 9, 2017 |publisher=CNN |date=February 9, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208235255/http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/08/politics/jeff-sessions-vote-senate-slog/ |archive-date=February 8, 2017}}</ref><ref name="SenateVote09Feb17">{{cite web |title=Question: On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Jeff Sessions, of Alabama, to be Attorney General) |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00055 |website=senate.gov |publisher=U.S. Senate |access-date=February 9, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081144/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00055 |archive-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> The next day, he was sworn in into his new post.

=== Tenure ===
[[File:Jeff Sessions swearing in 01.png|thumb|Sessions is sworn in as Attorney General by Vice President [[Mike Pence]].]]

On March 10, 2017, Sessions oversaw the firing of 46 [[United States Attorney|United States attorney]]s. His acting deputy, [[Dana Boente]], and Deputy Attorney General nominee [[Rod Rosenstein]] remained in place after Trump declined their resignations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Charlie Savage |last2=Maggie Haberman |title=Trump Abruptly Orders 46 Obama-Era Prosecutors to Resign |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/10/us/politics/us-attorney-justice-department-trump.html |access-date=May 10, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 11, 2017 |page=A1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311100817/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/10/us/politics/us-attorney-justice-department-trump.html |archive-date=March 11, 2017|author1-link=Charlie Savage (author) |author2-link=Maggie Haberman }}</ref>

On April 10, 2017, Sessions disbanded the National Commission on Forensic Science and ended the department's review of forensic accuracy in closed cases.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Erin E. |title=Sessions Is Wrong to Take Science Out of Forensic Science |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/opinion/sessions-is-wrong-to-take-science-out-of-forensic-science.html |access-date=May 10, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427195609/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/opinion/sessions-is-wrong-to-take-science-out-of-forensic-science.html |archive-date=April 27, 2017}}</ref>

Sessions imposed a hiring freeze on most of the [[United States Department of Justice Criminal Division]] and U.S. attorneys' offices, and placed a total hiring freeze on the Department's Fraud Section.<ref name=NYT25april17>{{cite news |first=Charlie |last=Savage |author-link=Charlie Savage (author) |title=Sessions Vows to Enforce an Anti-Bribery Law Trump Ridiculed |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/24/us/politics/jeff-sessions-anti-bribery.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 25, 2017 |page=A14 |access-date=May 10, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426144853/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/24/us/politics/jeff-sessions-anti-bribery.html |archive-date=April 26, 2017}}</ref> On April 24, 2017, Sessions traveled to an ethics lawyers' conference to assure them the department would continue prosecutions under the [[Foreign Corrupt Practices Act]], regardless of Trump's comments that the law is a "horrible law" and that "the world is laughing at us".<ref name=NYT25april17 />

On May 9, 2017, Sessions delivered a memo to the president recommending that Trump fire FBI director [[James Comey]], attaching a memo by Deputy Attorney General [[Rod Rosenstein]] which called the Director's behavior indefensible. Trump [[dismissal of James Comey|fired Comey]] that day.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Michael D. |last1=Shear |first2=Matt |last2=Apuzzo |author-link=Matt Apuzzo |title=TRUMP FIRES COMEY AMID RUSSIA INQUIRY – Clinton Email Investigation Cited – Democrats Seek Special Counsel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/james-comey-fired-fbi.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 10, 2017 |page=A1 |access-date=May 10, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510000911/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/james-comey-fired-fbi.html |archive-date=May 10, 2017}}</ref> In March 2017, Sessions had recused himself from investigations into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. Comey was leading the investigations prior to his dismissal.<ref>{{cite web |first=Olivia |last=Beavers |title=Franken rips Sessions for encouraging Comey firing |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/332671-dem-senator-sessions-recommendation-to-fire-comey-a-complete-betrayal/ |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |access-date=May 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510170257/http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/332671-dem-senator-sessions-recommendation-to-fire-comey-a-complete-betrayal |archive-date=May 10, 2017|date=May 10, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Amy |last=Davidson |title=Jeff Sessions's Role in James Comey's Firing |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson/jeff-sessionss-role-in-james-comeys-firing |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |access-date=May 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511000325/http://www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson/jeff-sessionss-role-in-james-comeys-firing |archive-date=May 11, 2017|date=May 10, 2017 }}</ref>

On June 5, 2017, Sessions issued a memo preventing the Justice Department's future [[settlement (litigation)|lawsuit settlements]] from including funding for third parties. Such settlement funding had been made available for the cleanup of the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill]] and the [[Volkswagen emissions scandal]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schlossberg |first1=Tatiana |last2=Tabuchi |first2=Hiroko |author-link=Hiroko Tabuchi |title=Settlements for Company Sins Can No Longer Aid Other Projects, Sessions Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/09/us/politics/settlements-sessions-attorney-general.html |access-date=June 15, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 10, 2017 |page=A1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615102848/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/09/us/politics/settlements-sessions-attorney-general.html |archive-date=June 15, 2017}}</ref>

In a November 2017 overview of his tenure in the ''Washington Post'', Sessions was described as having made "dramatic and controversial changes [which] reflect his nationalist ideology and hard-line views".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/while-eyes-are-on-russia-sessions-dramatically-reshapes-the-justice-department/2017/11/24/dd52d66a-b8dd-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html |title=While eyes are on Russia, Sessions dramatically reshapes the Justice Department |last1=Zapotosky |first1=Matt |date=November 24, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=November 24, 2017 |last2=Horwitz |first2=Sari |issn=0190-8286 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125003751/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/while-eyes-are-on-russia-sessions-dramatically-reshapes-the-justice-department/2017/11/24/dd52d66a-b8dd-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html |archive-date=November 25, 2017}}</ref>

In a speech on 5 December 2017, Sessions described a multi-billion dollar corruption scandal involving a Malaysian state fund ([[1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal]]) as the worst form of kleptocracy, and said the DoJ was working to provide justice to the victims. He said: "This is kleptocracy at its worst."<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-12-05 |title=Jeff Sessions calls Malaysia's 1MDB scandal 'kleptocracy at its worst' |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-scandal-doj-idUSKBN1DZ0MX }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-06 |title=1MDB saga is 'kleptocracy at its worst': Jeff Sessions - Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2017/12/06/2003683531 |website=www.taipeitimes.com}}</ref>

On December 21, 2017, Sessions rescinded 200 pages of guidance documents. Some of those 25 guidance documents had included warnings to avoid imposing excessive fees on the poor, to refrain from shipping some guns across state lines, and to encourage accommodation of the developmentally disabled.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Savage |first1=Charlie |title=Justice Dept. Revokes 25 Legal Guidance Documents Dating to 1975 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/21/us/politics/justice-dept-guidance-documents.html |access-date=March 9, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=December 22, 2017 |page=A17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306224823/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/21/us/politics/justice-dept-guidance-documents.html |archive-date=March 6, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Sessions's recessions were criticized by the [[United States Commission on Civil Rights]] and prompted a lawsuit by the [[City Attorney of San Francisco]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Strongly Criticizes Attorney General Jeff Sessions' Withdrawal of Critical Civil Rights Guidance |url=http://www.usccr.gov/press/2018/01-19-PR-Sessions.pdf |access-date=April 8, 2018 |agency=[[United States Commission on Civil Rights]] |date=January 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124153802/http://www.usccr.gov/press/2018/01-19-PR-Sessions.pdf |archive-date=January 24, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=YLS Today |title=San Francisco Files Student-Generated Civil Rights Case |url=https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/news/san-francisco-files-student-generated-civil-rights-case |access-date=April 8, 2018 |publisher=[[Yale Law School]] |date=April 5, 2018}}</ref> In 2018, Sessions shuttered the Justice Department's Office for Access to Justice, which had focused on [[legal aid]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Benner |first1=Katie |title=Justice Dept. Office to Make Legal Aid More Accessible Is Quietly Closed |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/01/us/politics/office-of-access-to-justice-department-closed.html |access-date=March 9, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=February 2, 2018 |page=A14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309182927/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/01/us/politics/office-of-access-to-justice-department-closed.html |archive-date=March 9, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On November 7, 2018, Sessions resigned at President Trump's behest. It has been reported that his letter of resignation had also been submitted on a prior occasion.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/07/politics/sessions-resign/index.html|title=Jeff Sessions out as attorney general |first1=Laura|last1=Jarrett|first2=Eli|last2=Watkins|date=November 7, 2018 |publisher=CNN|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107201139/https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/07/politics/sessions-resign/index.html|archive-date=November 7, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/jeff-sessions-sent-trump-a-resignation-letter-in-may-after-humiliating-oval-office-meeting-report| title=Jeff Sessions sent Trump a resignation letter in May after humiliating Oval Office meeting: Report| date=September 14, 2017| access-date=November 7, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108025752/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/jeff-sessions-sent-trump-a-resignation-letter-in-may-after-humiliating-oval-office-meeting-report| archive-date=November 8, 2018| url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Controversies about Russia ====
{{See also|Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections}}
[[File:Sessions Recusal.pdf|thumb|"Attorney General Sessions Statement on Recusal", U.S. Department of Justice (March 2, 2017)]]

During Sessions's [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Judiciary Committee]] confirmation hearing on January 10, Senator [[Al Franken]] asked him what he would do as attorney general "if there is any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of this campaign". Franken was referring to a news report alleging that Russia had compromising material on Trump, and that Trump surrogates were in contact with the Russian government. Sessions replied that he was "not aware of any of those activities" and said "I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I didn't have{{snd}}did not have communications with the Russians, and I'm unable to comment on it."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/intelligence-chiefs-briefed-trump-and-obama-on-unconfirmed-claims-russia-has-compromising-information-on-president-elect/2017/01/10/9da3969e-d788-11e6-9a36-1d296534b31e_story.html |title=Intelligence chiefs briefed Trump and Obama on unconfirmed claims Russia has compromising information on president-elect |date=January 10, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |last2=Helderman |first2=Rosalind S. |last3=Hamburger |first3=Tom |last4=Mufson |first4=Steven |last1=Miller |first1=Greg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729093901/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/intelligence-chiefs-briefed-trump-and-obama-on-unconfirmed-claims-russia-has-compromising-information-on-president-elect/2017/01/10/9da3969e-d788-11e6-9a36-1d296534b31e_story.html |archive-date=July 29, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/4688494/jeff-sessions-russia-confirmation/ |title=Here's Exactly What Jeff Sessions Said About Russia at his Confirmation Hearing |magazine=Time |last1=Abramson |first1=Alana |access-date=March 2, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302170306/http://time.com/4688494/jeff-sessions-russia-confirmation/ |archive-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref> A week later, in his responses to written questions presented by Senator [[Patrick Leahy]], Sessions stated that he had not been "in contact with anyone connected to any part of the Russian government about the 2016 election".<ref>[https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Sessions%20Responses%20to%20Leahy%20QFRs.pdf "Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General of the United States: Questions for the Record Submitted January 17, 2017: Questions from Senator Leahy"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303000707/https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Sessions%20Responses%20to%20Leahy%20QFRs.pdf |date=March 3, 2017 }}, [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary]] p. 26.</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Bump, Philip |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/03/02/what-jeff-sessions-said-about-russia-and-when/ |title=What Jeff Sessions said about Russia, and when |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 2, 2017 |archive-date=May 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527194607/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/03/02/what-jeff-sessions-said-about-russia-and-when/}}</ref>

On March 1, 2017, reports surfaced that Sessions had contact with Russian government officials during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, even though during his [[confirmation hearing]]s he denied he had any discussions with representatives of the Russian government.<ref name=abc /> News reports revealed that Sessions had spoken twice with Russia's ambassador to the United States, [[Sergey Kislyak]].<ref name=abc>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/sergei-kislyak-russian-ambassador-spoke-jeff-sessions/story?id=45865497 |title=Who is the Russian ambassador who spoke with Jeff Sessions? |date=March 2, 2017 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |last1=Reevell |first1=Patrick |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302220505/http://abcnews.go.com/International/sergei-kislyak-russian-ambassador-spoke-jeff-sessions/story?id=45865497 |archive-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/02/world/sergey-kislyak-russian-ambassador-us-profile/ |title=Who is Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the United States? |date=March 2, 2017 |first1=Tim |last1=Lister |via=CNN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402180322/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/02/world/sergey-kislyak-russian-ambassador-us-profile/ |archive-date=April 2, 2017}}</ref> The first communication took place after a [[The Heritage Foundation|Heritage Foundation]] event at the [[2016 Republican National Convention]] attended by several ambassadors, including Kislyak who spoke with Sessions. The second interaction took place on September 8, 2016, when they met in Sessions's office;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-spoke-twice-with-russian-ambassador-during-trumps-presidential-campaign-justice-officials-say/2017/03/01/77205eda-feac-11e6-99b4-9e613afeb09f_story.html |title=Sessions met with Russian envoy twice last year, encounters he later did not disclose |last2=Nakashima |first2=Ellen |date=March 1, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |last3=Miller |first3=Greg |last1=Entous |first1=Adam |access-date=March 2, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302021148/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-spoke-twice-with-russian-ambassador-during-trumps-presidential-campaign-justice-officials-say/2017/03/01/77205eda-feac-11e6-99b4-9e613afeb09f_story.html |archive-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref> Sessions said they discussed Ukraine and terrorism.<ref>[http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000597891 "Sessions: Discussed Ukraine & terrorism with Russian amb."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304193346/http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000597891 |date=March 4, 2017 }} [[CNBC]]. March 2, 2017.</ref> Sessions released a statement on March 1, 2017, saying "I never met with any Russian officials to discuss issues of the campaign. I have no idea what this allegation is about. It is false."<ref name="CNN01">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/01/politics/jeff-sessions-russian-ambassador-meetings/index.html |title=Sessions did not disclose meetings with Russian ambassador |first=Evan |last=Perez |author2=Shimon Prokupecz and Eli Watkins |date=March 2, 2017 |publisher=CNN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302154956/http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/01/politics/jeff-sessions-russian-ambassador-meetings/index.html |archive-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref><ref name="foxnews.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sessions-russian-ambassador-reportedly-spoke-twice-during-presidential-campaign/ |title=Sessions, Russian ambassador reportedly spoke twice during presidential campaign |publisher=Fox News |date=March 2, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302163533/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/02/sessions-russian-ambassador-spoke-twice-during-presidential-campaign.html |archive-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/sessions-met-russian-ambassador-didn-t-mislead-senate-spokeswoman-n727966 |title=Attorney General Sessions had contact with Russian envoy during campaign |work=[[NBC News]] |date=March 2, 2017 |first=Hallie |last=Jackson |author2=Alex Johnson |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303004317/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/sessions-met-russian-ambassador-didn-t-mislead-senate-spokeswoman-n727966 |archive-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref> U.S. Justice Department spokeswoman [[Sarah Isgur Flores]] said: "There was absolutely nothing misleading about his answer. He was asked during the hearing about communications between Russia and the Trump campaign{{snd}}not about meetings he took as a senator and a member of the Armed Services Committee{{spaces}}... Last year, the Senator had over 25 conversations with foreign ambassadors as a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, including the British, Korean, Japanese, Polish, Indian, Chinese, Canadian, Australian, German and Russian ambassadors."<ref name="CNN01" /><ref name="foxnews.com" /><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39136118 |title=Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions under fire over Russia meetings |date=March 2, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302173842/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39136118 |archive-date=March 2, 2017 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

Upon the revelation that Sessions had met twice with the Russian ambassador, Republican senator [[Lindsey Graham]] called for Sessions to recuse himself from any investigations into the connections between Russia and the Trump campaign.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/graham-sessions-trump-russia-235597 |title=Sessions under fire over Russia meetings |last1=Morin |first1=Rebecca |last2=Meyer |first2=Josh |last3=Wright |first3=Austin |date=March 1, 2017 |work=[[Politico]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302051151/http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/graham-sessions-trump-russia-235597 |archive-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref> Several Democratic members of Congress called on Sessions to resign his post as United States attorney general.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/02/attorney-general-jeff-sessions-perjury-confirmation-hearing-russia/98643620/ |title=Did Attorney General Jeff Sessions misspeak, lie – or commit perjury? |last=Wolf |first=Richard |date=March 4, 2017 |newspaper=USA Today |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021182939/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/02/attorney-general-jeff-sessions-perjury-confirmation-hearing-russia/98643620/ |archive-date=October 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/02/us/politics/jeff-sessions-russia-trump-investigation-democrats.html |title=Jeff Sessions Recuses Himself From Russia Inquiry |last2=Lichtblau |first2=Eric |date=March 2, 2017 |first1=Mark |last1=Landler |via=NYTimes.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302223014/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/02/us/politics/jeff-sessions-russia-trump-investigation-democrats.html |archive-date=March 2, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times }}</ref> Representatives [[Nancy Pelosi]] and [[Elijah Cummings]] and Senator [[Al Franken]] accused Sessions of having lied under oath at his confirmation hearing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theweek.com/speedreads/683312/nancy-pelosi-calls-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-resign |title=Nancy Pelosi calls on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign |website=[[The Week]] |date=March 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305182812/http://theweek.com/speedreads/683312/nancy-pelosi-calls-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-resign |archive-date=March 5, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/321937-cummings-calls-on-sessions-to-resign/ |title=Cummings says Sessions should step down over conversations with Russian ambassador |first=Mallory |last=Shelbourne |date=March 1, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302053401/http://thehill.com/homenews/house/321937-cummings-calls-on-sessions-to-resign |archive-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Watkins |first1=Eli |title=Al Franken: I think Jeff Sessions committed perjury |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/07/politics/al-franken-jeff-sessions-perjury/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=March 8, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310170010/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/07/politics/al-franken-jeff-sessions-perjury/index.html |archive-date=March 10, 2017}}</ref>

On March 20, 2017, [[FBI Director|FBI director]] [[James Comey]] testified in front of the [[House Intelligence Committee]] that since July 2016, the FBI had been conducting a counter-intelligence investigation to assess the extent of Russia's interference into the 2016 presidential election and whether Trump associates played a role in Russia's efforts.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Kevin |last2=Sullivan |first2=Bartholomew D. |title=Senate's Russia probe churns on as House panel's investigation stalls |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/29/two-russia-probes-churn-house-panels-investigation-stalls/99775528/ |access-date=April 12, 2017 |work=USA Today |date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413083804/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/29/two-russia-probes-churn-house-panels-investigation-stalls/99775528/ |archive-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref> In May 2017 the Justice Department reported that Sessions had failed to disclose meetings with Russian officials during the presidential campaign in 2016, when he applied for his security clearance. Sessions's staff had been advised by the FBI that meetings with foreign dignitaries and their staff connected with his Senate activities did not need to be disclosed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/24/politics/jeff-sessions-russian-officials-meetings/index.html |title=First on CNN: AG Sessions did not disclose Russia meetings in security clearance form, DOJ says |author=Raju, Manu |author2=Perez, Evan |publisher=CNN |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525001047/http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/24/politics/jeff-sessions-russian-officials-meetings/index.html |date=May 25, 2017 |archive-date=May 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ruiz |first1=Rebecca R. |title=Sessions Was Advised Not to Disclose Russia Meetings on Security Forms |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/us/politics/jeff-sessions-russia.html |work=The New York Times |date=May 24, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715065827/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/us/politics/jeff-sessions-russia.html |archive-date=July 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Perez |first=Evan |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/10/politics/jeff-sessions-fbi-russian-contacts/index.html |title=FBI email: Sessions wasn't required to disclose foreign contacts for security clearance |publisher=CNN |date=December 11, 2017 |access-date=January 13, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114020308/http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/10/politics/jeff-sessions-fbi-russian-contacts/index.html |archive-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref>

On June 13, 2017, Sessions testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee after canceling testimonies before the [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|House]] and [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate]] Committees on Appropriations.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-says-he-will-not-testify-at-congressional-budget-hearings-this-week/2017/06/10/e052be84-4e2a-11e7-a186-60c031eab644_story.html |title=Sessions won't testify at congressional budget hearings but at Senate intelligence hearing instead |last=Horwitz |first=Sari |date=June 10, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=June 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613201731/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-says-he-will-not-testify-at-congressional-budget-hearings-this-week/2017/06/10/e052be84-4e2a-11e7-a186-60c031eab644_story.html |archive-date=June 13, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|id=pEgmGo4joLM|title=US attorney general, Jeff Sessions, is testifying before the Senate – watch live}} streamed live on June 13, 2017 [[Guardian News]]</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2017/jun/13/jeff-sessions-testimony-russia-contacts-live |title=Jeff Sessions testimony: attorney general grilled on Russia ties – live |last=McCarthy |first=Tom |date=June 13, 2017 |work=The Guardian|access-date=June 13, 2017 |issn=0261-3077 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613191928/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2017/jun/13/jeff-sessions-testimony-russia-contacts-live |archive-date=June 13, 2017}}</ref> Sessions rejected reports he had met with Russian Ambassador Kislyak during Trump's April 2016 speech at the [[Mayflower Hotel]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], testifying that he did not remember any "brief interaction" he may have had with the ambassador.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Horwitz |first1=Sari |last2=Barrett |first2=Devlin |last3=Zapotosky |first3=Matt |title=Jeff Sessions testifies: Refuses to say whether he spoke to Trump about Comey's handling of Russia investigation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/jeff-sessions-set-to-testify-this-afternoon-before-senate-intelligence-committee/2017/06/13/ac5321bc-4fc6-11e7-91eb-9611861a988f_story.html |access-date=June 15, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=June 14, 2017 |page=A1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614231117/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/jeff-sessions-set-to-testify-this-afternoon-before-senate-intelligence-committee/2017/06/13/ac5321bc-4fc6-11e7-91eb-9611861a988f_story.html |archive-date=June 14, 2017}}</ref> Accused of "[[stonewalling]]" by Senator [[Ron Wyden]], Sessions discussed the [[executive privilege]] power, and said that he was refusing to answer questions about his conversations with Trump because "I am protecting the President's right to assert it if he chooses."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Flegenheimer |first1=Matt |last2=Ruiz |first2=Rebecca R. |title=Jeff Sessions Denies Collusion, Deploring 'Detestable Lie' in Senate Testimony |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/13/us/politics/jeff-sessions-senate-trump.html |access-date=June 15, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 14, 2017 |page=A1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615070240/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/13/us/politics/jeff-sessions-senate-trump.html |archive-date=June 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-executive-privilege-jeff-sessions-testimony-2017-6 |title=Here's why Jeff Sessions argued he couldn't tell senators what he said to Trump |last=Mark |first=Michelle |website=[[Business Insider]] |date=June 13, 2017 |access-date=June 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613182412/http://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-executive-privilege-jeff-sessions-testimony-2017-6 |archive-date=June 13, 2017}}</ref> He was being advised by his personal lawyer [[Charles J. Cooper]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Goddard |first=Taegan |url=https://politicalwire.com/2017/06/20/sessions-has-lawyered-up-too/ |title=Sessions Has Lawyered Up Too |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814221012/https://politicalwire.com/2017/06/20/sessions-has-lawyered-up-too/ | archive-date=August 14, 2017 |work=[[Political Wire]] |date=June 20, 2017}}</ref>

In July 2017, ''The Washington Post'' reported that Kislyak, in communications intercepted by U.S. intelligence, had told his superiors in Moscow that his conversations with Sessions had concerned Trump's campaign as well as "Trump's positions on Russia-related issues".<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news |first1=Adam |last1=Entous |first2=Ellen |last2=Nakashima |first3=Greg |last3=Miller |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-discussed-trump-campaign-related-matters-with-russian-ambassador-us-intelligence-intercepts-show/2017/07/21/3e704692-6e44-11e7-9c15-177740635e83_story.html |title=Sessions discussed Trump campaign-related matters with Russian ambassador, U.S. Intelligence intercepts show |date=July 21, 2017 |access-date=July 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721225455/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-discussed-trump-campaign-related-matters-with-russian-ambassador-us-intelligence-intercepts-show/2017/07/21/3e704692-6e44-11e7-9c15-177740635e83_story.html |archive-date=July 21, 2017}}</ref> Previously, after initially denying having met with Kisylak at all, Sessions had repeatedly asserted that in his meetings with the Russian ambassador he never discussed the campaign and only met with him in his capacity as a U.S. senator.<ref name="washingtonpost.com" /><ref name=Wang>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/21/jeff-sessions-reportedly-discussed-campaign-issues-with-sergey-kislyak.html |title=Jeff Sessions reportedly discussed campaign issues with Russian ambassador |website=[[CNBC]] |date=July 21, 2017 |access-date=July 21, 2017 |last=Wang |first=Christine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722013020/http://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/21/jeff-sessions-reportedly-discussed-campaign-issues-with-sergey-kislyak.html |archive-date=July 22, 2017}}</ref> The [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] responded by saying that Sessions stood by his testimony that he "never met with or had any conversations with any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election".<ref>{{cite news|last=Lima |first=Cristiano |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/21/justice-spokeswoman-questions-sessions-report-240827 |title=Justice spokeswoman questions report of Sessions' exchange with Russian officials |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722053639/http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/21/justice-spokeswoman-questions-sessions-report-240827 |archive-date=July 22, 2017 |work=[[Politico]] |date=July 21, 2017}}</ref>

In March 2016, one of Trump's foreign policy advisors named [[George Papadopoulos]] suggested that he could use personal connections to arrange a meeting with Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]], and Sessions rejected the proposed meeting, according to information provided to [[CNN]] by a person in attendance.<ref name="CNN-Sessions-under-renewed-scrutiny">{{cite news |last1=Raju |first1=Manu |last2=Perez |first2=Evan |last3=Cohen |first3=Marshall |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/02/politics/jeff-sessions-congress-russia-trump-campaign/index.html |title=Sessions under renewed scrutiny on Capitol Hill |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=November 2, 2017 |access-date=November 5, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104222133/http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/02/politics/jeff-sessions-congress-russia-trump-campaign/index.html |archive-date=November 4, 2017}}</ref> This raised questions on the truthfulness of Sessions's testimony and whether Sessions committed [[perjury]] during his testimony.<ref name="DW">{{cite news |last=Schumacher |first=Elizabeth |url=http://www.dw.com/en/us-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-faces-perjury-claims/a-41217840 |title=US Attorney General Jeff Sessions faces perjury claims |work=[[Deutsche Welle]] |date=November 2, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105064939/http://www.dw.com/en/us-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-faces-perjury-claims/a-41217840 |access-date=November 5, 2017 |archive-date=November 5, 2017}}</ref><ref name="thehillnov22017">{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Brandon |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/358737-dem-lawmaker-sessions-absolutely-committed-perjury-and-should-resign/ |title=Dem lawmaker: Sessions 'absolutely' committed perjury and should resign |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=November 3, 2017 |access-date=November 5, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104150027/http://thehill.com/homenews/house/358737-dem-lawmaker-sessions-absolutely-committed-perjury-and-should-resign |archive-date=November 4, 2017}}</ref> Furthermore, on the same day, testimony given by [[Carter Page]] to the House intelligence committee contradicted Sessions's previous statements by stating that he had told Sessions about plans to visit Russia during the campaign.<ref name="CNN-2017-11-03-carterpage">{{cite news |last1=Raju |first1=Manu |last2=Herb |first2=Jeremy |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/02/politics/carter-page-testimony-russia-trip/index.html |title=Exclusive: Carter Page testifies he told Sessions about Russia trip |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=November 3, 2017 |access-date=November 5, 2017}}</ref><ref name="NYT-Carterpage-20171103">{{cite news |last1=Mazzetti |first1=Mark |last2=Goldman |first2=Adam |url=https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/11/03/us/politics/trump-campaign-page-russian.html |title=Trump Campaign Adviser Met With Russian Officials in 2016 |work=[[The New York Times]] |location=Washington, DC |date=November 3, 2017 |access-date=November 5, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107032617/https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/11/03/us/politics/trump-campaign-page-russian.html |archive-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>

Beginning in March 2017, senators asked the FBI to conduct a criminal [[perjury]] investigation into Sessions.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Savage |first1=Charlie |title=Democrats Sought Inquiry of Testimony by Sessions at His Confirmation Hearing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/01/us/politics/democrats-sought-inquiry-of-testimony-by-sessions-at-his-confirmation-hearing.html |access-date=March 23, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=June 2, 2017 |page=A16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322081505/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/01/us/politics/democrats-sought-inquiry-of-testimony-by-sessions-at-his-confirmation-hearing.html |archive-date=March 22, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Deputy Director [[Andrew McCabe]] then assigned FBI agents to investigate.<ref name=nyt22march18>{{cite news |last1=Goldman |first1=Adam |last2=Benner |first2=Katie |last3=Apuzzo |first3=Matt |title=F.B.I. Investigated Sessions for Possible Perjury Over Russia Denials |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/21/us/politics/sessions-fbi-investigation-perjury.html |access-date=March 23, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=March 22, 2018 |page=A16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322212849/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/21/us/politics/sessions-fbi-investigation-perjury.html |archive-date=March 22, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to Sessions's personal lawyer, the investigation concluded without charges being brought.<ref name=nyt22march18 />

On March 16, 2018, Sessions fired McCabe hours before the deputy director would have qualified for a government pension, citing McCabe's lack of candor to the [[United States Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General|department's inspector general]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Apuzzo |first1=Matt |last2=Goldman |first2=Adam |title=Andrew McCabe, a Target of Trump's F.B.I. Scorn, Is Fired Over Candor Questions |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/16/us/politics/andrew-mccabe-fbi-fired.html |access-date=March 23, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=March 17, 2018 |page=A15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323030604/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/16/us/politics/andrew-mccabe-fbi-fired.html |archive-date=March 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Recusal from election investigation, and relationship with President Trump ====

The idea that Sessions might have to recuse himself from the Russia investigation was raised almost as soon as he took office. Trump was concerned about the implications of such a recusal, reportedly telling aides that he needed a loyalist overseeing the investigation.<ref name = asked>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/us/politics/trump-sessions-obstruction.html |title=Trump Asked Sessions to Retain Control of Russia Inquiry After His Recusal |last1=Schmidt |first1=Michael S. |last2=Davis |first2=Julie Hirschfeld |date=May 29, 2018 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530000034/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/us/politics/trump-sessions-obstruction.html |archive-date=May 30, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In early March he told White House counsel [[Don McGahn]] to urge Sessions to retain oversight of the investigation, but Sessions told McGahn he intended to follow the advice of Justice Department lawyers.<ref name="scoop">{{cite news |url=https://www.axios.com/trump-pressure-sessions-mueller-investigation-30e0f930-e688-47da-8f20-411864cea471.html |title=Scoop: Trump repeatedly pressured Sessions on Mueller investigation |last=Swan |first=Jonathan |date=May 31, 2018 |work=Axios |access-date=June 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531235635/https://www.axios.com/trump-pressure-sessions-mueller-investigation-30e0f930-e688-47da-8f20-411864cea471.html |archive-date=May 31, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 2, 2017, Sessions announced that he would recuse himself from any investigations into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election, or any other matters related to the 2016 presidential election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Eric |last2=Lichtblau |first2=Michael D. |last3=Savage |first3=Charlie |title=Jeff Sessions Recuses Himself From Russia Inquiry |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/02/us/politics/jeff-sessions-russia-trump-investigation-democrats.html |work=The New York Times |date=March 2, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302223014/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/02/us/politics/jeff-sessions-russia-trump-investigation-democrats.html |archive-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref> He had been advised to do so by career Justice Department personnel, citing concerns about impartiality given his prominent role in the Trump election campaign.<ref name = asked /> When told that a special counsel had been appointed, the president slumped back in his chair and said, "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I'm fucked," then elaborating, “Everyone tells me if you get one of these independent counsels it ruins your presidency. It takes years and years and I won’t be able to do anything. This is the worst thing that ever happened to me.”<ref>Robert S. Mueller, [https://www.justice.gov/storage/report.pdf "Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419072437/https://www.justice.gov/storage/report.pdf |date=April 19, 2019 }}, p. 290</ref> That same day, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported that Sessions' contacts with Russians had been investigated, but it was not clear whether the investigation was ongoing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/investigators-probed-jeff-sessions-contacts-with-russian-officials-1488424871 |title=Investigators Probed Jeff Sessions' Contacts With Russian Officials |last2=Stewart |first2=Christopher S. |date=March 2, 2017 |last3=Barry |first3=Rob |last4=Harris |first4=Shane |first1=Carol E. |last1=Lee |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302043136/https://www.wsj.com/articles/investigators-probed-jeff-sessions-contacts-with-russian-officials-1488424871 |archive-date=March 2, 2017}} {{subscription required|date=May 2017}}</ref> Sessions said during a televised interview that the recusal was not an admission of any wrongdoing.<ref>Hains, Tim. [https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2017/03/03/sessions_recusal_is_not_an_admission_of_any_wrongdoing.html "Sessions To Tucker Carlson: Recusal Is Not An Admission Of Any Wrongdoing"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107232905/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2017/03/03/sessions_recusal_is_not_an_admission_of_any_wrongdoing.html|date=January 7, 2018}}, [[Real Clear Politics]] (March 3, 2017).</ref> On June 8, 2017, James Comey, who had been dismissed as FBI director a month earlier, testified before the [[Senate Intelligence Committee]] that he had expected Sessions to recuse himself from the Russia investigation two weeks before he did so, for classified reasons that made Sessions's continued engagement in the investigation "problematic".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/06/08/532146805/comey-testimony-raises-new-questions-about-jeff-sessions-and-russia |title=Comey Testimony Raises New Questions About Jeff Sessions And Russia |publisher=[[NPR]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612051744/http://www.npr.org/2017/06/08/532146805/comey-testimony-raises-new-questions-about-jeff-sessions-and-russia |archive-date=June 12, 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Attorney General Sessions Statement on Recusal.webm|thumb|Attorney General Sessions Statement on Recusal]]

A few days after he announced his recusal, Sessions traveled to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump. Sessions wanted to talk about implementing Trump's proposed travel ban, but instead Trump berated him for recusing himself and asked him to reverse his recusal. Sessions refused.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/30/trump-reportedly-asked-sessions-to-reverse-his-recusal-from-russia-probe.html |title=President Trump reportedly asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions to reverse his decision to recuse himself from Russia probe |last=Cullen |first=Terri |date=May 30, 2018 |publisher=[[CNBC]] |access-date=June 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623222007/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/30/trump-reportedly-asked-sessions-to-reverse-his-recusal-from-russia-probe.html |archive-date=June 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2017, Sessions offered to resign after receiving criticism from Trump, but Trump did not accept the resignation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |last2=Baker |first2=Peter |title=Sessions Is Said to Have Offered to Resign |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/06/us/politics/jeff-sessions-donald-trump.html |access-date=June 15, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 7, 2017 |page=A18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614142101/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/06/us/politics/jeff-sessions-donald-trump.html |archive-date=June 14, 2017}}</ref>

For the rest of Sessions's tenure, Trump continued to be furious with him for his recusal, blaming it for the appointment of [[Robert Mueller]] as special counsel by Deputy Attorney General [[Rod Rosenstein]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/05/us/politics/trump-discontent-attorney-general-jeff-sessions.html |title=Trump Grows Discontented With Attorney General Jeff Sessions |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 6, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614142059/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/05/us/politics/trump-discontent-attorney-general-jeff-sessions.html |archive-date=June 14, 2017|last1=Baker |first1=Peter |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie }}</ref> Trump publicly attacked Sessions multiple times via Twitter and in public comments, saying he regretted choosing him as attorney general and that he never would have done so if he had known Sessions was going to recuse himself from the investigation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/30/politics/donald-trump-jeff-sessions-attorney-general/index.html |title=Trump wishes he hadn't picked Jeff Sessions for attorney general |date=May 30, 2018 |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=June 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531210419/https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/30/politics/donald-trump-jeff-sessions-attorney-general/index.html |archive-date=May 31, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/07/19/538223359/trump-id-never-have-picked-sessions-if-id-known-about-recusal-on-russia |title=Trump: I'd Never Have Picked Sessions If I'd Known About Recusal On Russia |date=July 19, 2017 |work=NPR |access-date=June 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623221922/https://www.npr.org/2017/07/19/538223359/trump-id-never-have-picked-sessions-if-id-known-about-recusal-on-russia |archive-date=June 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to [[Bob Woodward]]'s book ''[[Fear: Trump in the White House]]'', Trump called Sessions "mentally retarded" and described him as a "dumb southerner".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/04/politics/bob-woodward-donald-trump-jeff-sessions/index.html |title=Bob Woodward book: Trump called Sessions 'mentally retarded' |last=Cohen |first=Marshall |date=September 5, 2018 |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911081919/https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/04/politics/bob-woodward-donald-trump-jeff-sessions/index.html |archive-date=September 11, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name = bi>{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-calls-jeff-sessions-mentally-retarded-dumb-southerner-dear-bob-woodward-2018-9 |title=Trump denied calling Jeff Sessions – or anyone – 'mentally retarded,' but old records show he has |last=Choi |first=David |date=September 5, 2018 |work=Business Insider |access-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911114434/https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-calls-jeff-sessions-mentally-retarded-dumb-southerner-dear-bob-woodward-2018-9 |archive-date=September 11, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Trump denied ever using "these terms on anyone", although he had been recorded using the word "retarded" as an insult on two episodes of ''[[The Howard Stern Show]]''.<ref name=bi />

In addition to criticizing him, Trump often used Twitter to suggest things he thought Sessions should do or to criticize Justice Department actions.<ref name = timeline /> According to Senator [[Jeff Flake]], "the president has been pushing [Sessions] very openly to go after the president's enemies and lay off his friends," adding "And so far, Jeff Sessions, bless his heart, has resisted and maintained that the judiciary needs to be independent."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/09/05/donald-trump-political-world-reacts-new-york-times-anonymous-op-ed/1207448002/ |title='Cowardly,' 'cry for help': Reactions to anonymous Trump official's op-ed |last=Cummings |first=William |date=September 5, 2018 |work=USA Today |access-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915231234/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/09/05/donald-trump-political-world-reacts-new-york-times-anonymous-op-ed/1207448002/ |archive-date=September 15, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Trump demanded that Sessions investigate [[Hillary Clinton]], [[Barack Obama]], and various employees of the FBI and Justice Department. In August 2018 he said that Sessions should "stop" the Mueller investigation. He later tweeted that "Our A.G. is scared stiff and Missing in Action."<ref name = timeline>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/25/politics/trump-sessions-twitter-timeline/index.html |title=Trump's Twitter attacks on Sessions: an annotated timeline |last=Hansler |first=Jennifer |date=August 25, 2018 |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916055821/https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/25/politics/trump-sessions-twitter-timeline/index.html |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In an August interview Trump complained that Sessions "never took control of the Justice Department", to which Sessions in a rare response said "While I am Attorney General, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations.{{spaces}}... I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/23/politics/jeff-sessions-donald-trump/index.html |title=Sessions hits back at Trump: DOJ won't be 'improperly influenced' |date=August 23, 2018 |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916022746/https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/23/politics/jeff-sessions-donald-trump/index.html |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 3, 2018, Trump complained on Twitter that "investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department. Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time." Many lawmakers, including Republican senators, said Trump's remark was inappropriate, and a spokesperson for House speaker [[Paul Ryan]] said the Justice Department "should always remain apolitical".<ref name="Lucey">{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/5d4ab57880b14567a9bd2351d67a3067/Republicans-hit-Trump-for-criticizing-Justice-Department |title=Republicans hit Trump for criticizing Justice Department |last=Lucey |first=Catherine |date=September 4, 2018 |work=AP News |access-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916022644/https://apnews.com/5d4ab57880b14567a9bd2351d67a3067/Republicans-hit-Trump-for-criticizing-Justice-Department |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Trump often hinted he wanted to fire Sessions, perhaps after the November 2018 elections. Sessions told associates he did not intend to resign,<ref name="Lucey" /> but on November 7, 2018, he submitted a letter of resignation to Chief of Staff [[John F. Kelly|John Kelly]] at President Trump's request.

==== Criminal justice ====
On April 3, 2017, Sessions announced that he intended to review [[consent decree]]s in which local law enforcement agencies had agreed to Department oversight.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/03/us/justice-department-jeff-sessions-baltimore-police.html |title=Sweeping Federal Review Could Affect Consent Decrees Nationwide |date=April 4, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |last2=Eric Lichtblau |page=A1 |last1=Sheryl Gay Stolberg |access-date=May 10, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506154616/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/03/us/justice-department-jeff-sessions-baltimore-police.html |archive-date=May 6, 2017|author2-link=Eric Lichtblau }}</ref> U.S. district judge [[James K. Bredar]] then denied Sessions's request to delay a new consent decree with the [[Baltimore Police Department]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/us/baltimore-justice-department-police-consent-decree.html |title=Judge Approves Consent Decree to Overhaul Baltimore Police Dept. |date=April 8, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=A18 |last1=Victor |first1=Daniel |access-date=May 10, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422050450/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/us/baltimore-justice-department-police-consent-decree.html |archive-date=April 22, 2017}}</ref>

On May 12, 2017, Sessions ordered federal prosecutors to begin seeking the greatest criminal charges possible in drug cases.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/12/us/politics/attorney-general-jeff-sessions-drug-offenses-penalties.html |title=Attorney General Orders Tougher Sentences, Rolling Back Obama Policy |date=May 13, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=A15 |last1=Ruiz |first1=Rebecca R. |access-date=May 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513023141/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/12/us/politics/attorney-general-jeff-sessions-drug-offenses-penalties.html |archive-date=May 13, 2017}}</ref> The new guidelines rescinded a memo by Attorney General [[Eric Holder]] that had sought to reduce [[mass incarceration]] by avoiding [[mandatory sentencing]].<ref name="The New York Times">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/jeff-sessions-sentencing-criminal-justice.html |title=Sessions to Toughen Rules on Prosecuting Drug Crimes |date=May 10, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=A1 |last1=Ruiz |first1=Rebecca R. |access-date=May 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513022205/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/jeff-sessions-sentencing-criminal-justice.html |archive-date=May 13, 2017}}</ref>

On July 19, 2017, Sessions signed an order reviving federally adopted [[civil asset forfeiture]], which allows local law enforcement to bypass state limitations on seizing the property of those suspected but not charged of crimes.<ref name="www.justice.gov">{{cite press release |title=Press Release Number 17-795: Attorney General Sessions Issues Policy and Guidelines on Federal Adoptions of Assets Seized by State or Local Law Enforcement |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-sessions-issues-policy-and-guidelines-federal-adoptions-assets-seized-state |access-date=July 20, 2017 |work=justice.gov |date=July 19, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720011810/https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-sessions-issues-policy-and-guidelines-federal-adoptions-assets-seized-state |archive-date=July 20, 2017}}</ref>

In September 2017, the Justice Department under Sessions stated that it would no longer investigate police departments and publicize their shortcomings in reports, a policy previously enacted under the Obama administration. These reports were the basis of negotiating consent decrees.<ref name=Timm>{{cite news |last1=Timm |first1=Jane |title=Trump says Obama didn't reform policing – but he did. Then the president ditched it. |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-says-obama-didn-t-reform-policing-he-did-then-n1231200 |access-date=June 17, 2020 |work=[[NBC News]] |date=June 16, 2020}}</ref>

On December 22, 2017, Sessions rescinded guidelines intended to warn local courts against imposing excessive fines and fees on poor defendants.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/jeff-sessions-is-cool-with-towns-like-ferguson-fining-the-poor-into-oblivion/ |title=Jeff Sessions gives OK for towns like Ferguson to hit the poor with heavy fines |access-date=December 26, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226130441/https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/43qxqp/jeff-sessions-is-cool-with-towns-like-ferguson-fining-the-poor-into-oblivion |archive-date=December 26, 2017|date=December 22, 2017 |first1=Taylor|last1=Dolven}}</ref>

Sessions has brought prominence to prosecutions of the [[MS-13]] gang.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nixon |first1=Ron |last2=Robbins |first2=Liz |last3=Benner |first3=Katie |title=Trump Targets MS-13, a Violent Menace, if Not the One He Portrays |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/01/us/politics/ms13-gang-threat-trump-policy.html |access-date=March 9, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=March 2, 2018 |page=A1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309090615/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/01/us/politics/ms13-gang-threat-trump-policy.html |archive-date=March 9, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2018, Sessions sent a public letter to Senator [[Chuck Grassley]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Iowa|IA]]) opposing the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman's bipartisan [[Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act]] bill.<ref name=NYT28march18>{{cite news |last1=Apuzzo |first1=Matt |title=Sessions and Kushner Square Off, and Prisoners Hang in the Balance |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/us/politics/jeff-sessions-jared-kushner-prisons.html |access-date=June 15, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=March 30, 2018 |page=A1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615111702/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/us/politics/jeff-sessions-jared-kushner-prisons.html |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Sessions opposed White House senior advisor [[Jared Kushner]]'s support for the reforms until Kushner reportedly agreed to focus instead on improving prison conditions.<ref name=NYT28march18 />

On March 20, 2018, Sessions signed a memo instructing federal prosecutors to seek [[capital punishment]] on major drug dealers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tanfani |first1=Joseph |title=Following Trump's lead, Sessions urges federal prosecutors to seek death penalty against major drug dealers |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-sessions-death-penalty-20180321-story.html |access-date=March 23, 2018 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323092429/http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-sessions-death-penalty-20180321-story.html |archive-date=March 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Press Release |title=Attorney General Sessions Issues Memo to U.S. Attorneys on the Use of Capital Punishment in Drug-Related Prosecutions |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-sessions-issues-memo-us-attorneys-use-capital-punishment-drug-related |access-date=March 23, 2018 |agency=[[United States Department of Justice]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322030137/https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-sessions-issues-memo-us-attorneys-use-capital-punishment-drug-related |archive-date=March 22, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2018, just before Sessions was fired by Trump, Sessions ordered for consent decrees to be severely restricted.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Benner |first1=Katie |title=Sessions, in Last-Minute Act, Sharply Limits Use of Consent Decrees to Curb Police Abuses |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/us/politics/sessions-limits-consent-decrees.html |access-date=June 17, 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181109033145/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/us/politics/sessions-limits-consent-decrees.html |archive-date=November 9, 2018}}</ref>

In June 2020, Sessions asserted that former president Barack Obama had coddled criminals while disrespecting law enforcement. He characterized an episode in which "there's a riot, and he has a beer at the White House with some criminal, to listen to him. Wasn't having a beer with the police officers." In July 2009, a brief uproar arose after a black Harvard professor, [[Henry Louis Gates]], was [[Henry Louis Gates arrest controversy|arrested by a white police officer]] as Gates attempted to enter his own home. Obama hosted both men at the White House to discuss the incident over beers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Plott |first=Elaina |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/magazine/jeff-sessions.html |title=The Fall of Jeff Sessions, and What Came After |work=The New York Times |date=June 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/30/harvard.arrest.beers/ |title=After beers, professor, officer plan to meet again |work=CNN |date=July 30, 2009 |access-date=July 30, 2020}}</ref>

==== Immigration ====

On March 27, 2017, Sessions told reporters that sanctuary cities failing to comply with policies of the Trump administration would lose federal funding, and cited the [[shooting of Kathryn Steinle]] as an example of an illegal immigrant committing a heinous crime.<ref name="Fox News">{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sessions-takes-aim-at-dangerous-sanctuary-cities-warns-on-funding |title=Sessions takes aim at 'dangerous' sanctuary cities, warns on funding |date=March 27, 2017 |publisher=Fox News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408171425/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/27/sessions-takes-aim-at-dangerous-sanctuary-cities-warns-on-funding.html |archive-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref>

On April 11, 2017, Sessions issued a memo for federal attorneys to consider prosecuting anyone harboring an illegal immigrant. On the same day, while at an entry border port in [[Nogales, Arizona]], Sessions insisted the new administration would implement policies against those continuing "to seek improper and illegal entry into this country".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/jeff-sessions-immigration-crackdown-237109 |title=Sessions signals immigration crackdown: 'This is the Trump era' |first=Ted |last=Hesson |work=[[Politico]] |date=April 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411215614/http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/jeff-sessions-immigration-crackdown-237109 |archive-date=April 11, 2017}}</ref> On April 21, nine sanctuary cities were sent letters by the Justice Department giving them a deadline of June 30 to provide an explanation of how their policies were not in violation of the law, and Sessions hours later warned "enough is enough" in [[San Diego]] amid his tour of the U.S.–Mexico border.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sessions-kelly-speak-about-border-wall-hawaii-comments/ |title="Enough is enough": Sessions slams sanctuary cities during border trip |date=April 21, 2017 |first=Kathryn |last=Watson |work=CBS News |access-date=April 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422123404/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sessions-kelly-speak-about-border-wall-hawaii-comments/ |archive-date=April 22, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Two days later, Sessions said that reducing false tax credits given to "mostly Mexicans" could pay for the U.S.–Mexico border and it would be paid for "one way or the other".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/23/mexicans-sessions-tax-credits-237490 |title=Sessions: Erroneous tax credits to 'mostly Mexicans' could pay for wall |date=April 23, 2017 |work=[[Politico]] |first=Patrick |last=Temple-West |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423193827/http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/23/mexicans-sessions-tax-credits-237490 |archive-date=April 23, 2017}}</ref>
[[File:Visit to El Paso, Texas 01.jpg|thumb|Sessions meets with Department of Justice and DHS personnel in [[El Paso, Texas]], April 2017]]

Sessions attempted to block funding to [[sanctuary city|sanctuary cities]]. Sessions also threatened to criminally prosecute uncooperative local officials.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Benner |first1=Katie |title=Democrats Question Justice Dept. Power to Charge Sanctuary City Leaders |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/18/us/politics/justice-department-sanctuary-cities-criminal-charges-elected-offiicals.html |access-date=March 9, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=January 19, 2018 |page=A14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308075905/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/18/us/politics/justice-department-sanctuary-cities-criminal-charges-elected-offiicals.html |archive-date=March 8, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Federal judges in Chicago, San Francisco, and Philadelphia have rejected Sessions's efforts.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Herskovitz |first1=John |title=U.S. judge in California blocks Trump's order on sanctuary cities |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-immigration-sanctuary/u-s-judge-in-california-blocks-trumps-order-on-sanctuary-cities-idUSKBN1DL0A6 |access-date=March 9, 2018 |work=Reuters |date=November 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310010402/https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-immigration-sanctuary/u-s-judge-in-california-blocks-trumps-order-on-sanctuary-cities-idUSKBN1DL0A6 |archive-date=March 10, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ilya Somin |title=Analysis: Losing so much he may get tired of losing – Trump suffers setback in yet another sanctuary city case |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/11/24/losing-so-much-he-may-get-tired-of-losing-trump-suffers-setback-in-yet-another-sanctuary-city-case/ |access-date=March 23, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323092445/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/11/24/losing-so-much-he-may-get-tired-of-losing-trump-suffers-setback-in-yet-another-sanctuary-city-case/ |archive-date=March 23, 2018 |url-status=live|author1-link=Ilya Somin }}</ref>

On March 6, 2018, Sessions sued the state of California in federal district court, alleging that the state's laws regarding prisoner release, workplace inspection, and detention site inspection are [[federal preemption|preempted]] by the federal government's immigration policy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Benner |first1=Katie |last2=Medina |first2=Jennifer |title=Trump Administration Sues California Over Immigration Laws |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/06/us/politics/justice-department-california-sanctuary-cities.html |access-date=March 9, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=March 7, 2018 |page=A14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309125252/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/06/us/politics/justice-department-california-sanctuary-cities.html |archive-date=March 9, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Liptak |first1=Adam |title=Sessions Targets California Immigrants Using a Ruling That Protected Them |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/07/us/politics/jeff-sessions-california-lawsuit.html |work=The New York Times |date=March 8, 2018 |page=A1 |access-date=March 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309094915/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/07/us/politics/jeff-sessions-california-lawsuit.html |archive-date=March 9, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fuller |first1=Thomas |last2=Yee |first2=Vivian |title=Jeff Sessions Scolds California in Immigration Speech: 'We Have a Problem' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/07/us/sessions-california-immigration.html |access-date=March 9, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=March 8, 2018 |page=A22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309095009/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/07/us/sessions-california-immigration.html |archive-date=March 9, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Sessions played an important role in implementing the [[Trump administration family separation policy]] wherein illegal immigrants were separated from their children.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last1=Shear|first1=Michael D.|last2=Benner|first2=Katie|last3=Schmidt|first3=Michael S.|date=October 6, 2020|title='We Need to Take Away Children,' No Matter How Young, Justice Dept. Officials Said|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/us/politics/family-separation-border-immigration-jeff-sessions-rod-rosenstein.html|access-date=October 7, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In June 2018, Sessions gave a speech in which he cited the [[Bible]] to justify the family separation policy, declaring that people should "obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gonzales |first1=Richard |title=Sessions Cites The Bible To Justify Immigrant Family Separations |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/06/14/620181177/sessions-cites-the-bible-to-justify-immigrant-family-separations |access-date=June 15, 2018 |work=[[NPR]] |date=June 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615014212/https://www.npr.org/2018/06/14/620181177/sessions-cites-the-bible-to-justify-immigrant-family-separations |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Christian leaders strongly disagreed with the policy, with Cardinal [[Daniel DiNardo]] calling it "immoral", Reverend [[Franklin Graham]] calling it "disgraceful", and Bishop Kenneth Carter of Session's own church (the United Methodist Church) calling it "unnecessarily cruel". Bible scholar and professor Matthew Schlimm said that history was being repeated as Sessions had taken the quote "completely out of context" just as slave traders and Nazis had misused the Bible in the past.<ref>{{Cite news |author=[[Jennifer Bendery]]|title=Christian Leaders To Jeff Sessions: The Bible Does Not Justify Separating Families |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jeff-sessions-trump-immigration-family-separation-border_us_5b23ff24e4b0783ae128f90d |newspaper=[[Huffington Post]] |access-date=June 16, 2018 |date=June 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616025834/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jeff-sessions-trump-immigration-family-separation-border_us_5b23ff24e4b0783ae128f90d |archive-date=June 16, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Sessions sought to distance himself from the family separation policy, letting others in the administration take the blame.<ref name=":0" />

On June 11, 2018, Sessions reversed a decision by the [[Board of Immigration Appeals]] granting a battered woman asylum and announced that victims of domestic abuse or gang violence will no longer qualify for [[asylum in the United States]]. He stated that "[t]he mere fact that a country may have problems effectively policing certain crimes{{snd}}such as domestic violence or gang violence{{snd}}or that certain populations are more likely to be victims of crime, cannot itself establish an asylum claim."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Siddiqui |first1=Sabrina |title=Trump administration moves to end asylum for victims of domestic abuse and gangs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/11/trump-asylum-seekers-abuse-gang-violence-end-jeff-sessions |work=The Guardian |date=June 11, 2018 |access-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723003722/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/11/trump-asylum-seekers-abuse-gang-violence-end-jeff-sessions |archive-date=July 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Benner |first1=Katie |last2=Dickerson |first2=Caitlin |title=Sessions Says Domestic and Gang Violence Are Not Grounds for Asylum |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/11/us/politics/sessions-domestic-violence-asylum.html |access-date=June 15, 2018 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 11, 2018 |page=A1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615004330/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/11/us/politics/sessions-domestic-violence-asylum.html |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Domestic violence]] victims had been eligible for asylum since 2014.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Preston |first1=Julia |title=In First for Court, Woman Is Ruled Eligible for Asylum in U.S. on Basis of Domestic Abuse |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/30/us/victim-of-domestic-violence-in-guatemala-is-ruled-eligible-for-asylum-in-us.html |access-date=June 15, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=August 29, 2014 |page=A12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613051241/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/30/us/victim-of-domestic-violence-in-guatemala-is-ruled-eligible-for-asylum-in-us.html |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to ''The New Yorker'', legal experts estimated that "Sessions had single-handedly dismantled between sixty and seventy per cent of asylum jurisprudence from the previous three decades."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blitzer |first=Jonathan |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/jeff-sessions-is-out-but-his-dark-vision-for-immigration-policy-lives-on |title=Jeff Sessions Is Out, But His Dark Vision for Immigration Policy Lives On |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=November 9, 2018 |date=November 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109074812/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/jeff-sessions-is-out-but-his-dark-vision-for-immigration-policy-lives-on |archive-date=November 9, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2017, while on a radio talk show, Sessions said that he was "amazed that a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific can issue an order that stops the President of the United States from what appears to be clearly his statutory and Constitutional power".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/20/jeff-sessions-doesnt-think-a-judge-in-hawaii-a-k-a-an-island-in-the-pacific-should-overrule-trump/ |title=Jeff Sessions doesn't think a judge in Hawaii – a.k.a. 'an island in the Pacific' – should overrule Trump |last=Blake |first=Aaron |date=April 20, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=April 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421003545/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/20/jeff-sessions-doesnt-think-a-judge-in-hawaii-a-k-a-an-island-in-the-pacific-should-overrule-trump/ |archive-date=April 21, 2017|url-access=limited}}</ref> This was in reference to [[Derrick Watson]], a judge for the [[United States District Court for the District of Hawaii]], blocking an executive order by President Trump. After receiving criticism for the remark,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-39666252 |title=Jeff Sessions 'reminded' Hawaii is a state, and #AskTheresaMay criticises premier |last=Estatie |first=Lamia |date=April 21, 2017 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=April 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428070649/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-39666252 |archive-date=April 28, 2017}}</ref> Sessions said there is nothing he "would want to phrase differently" and that he "wasn't criticizing the judge or the island".<ref name=":1" />

==== Marijuana ====

In a May 2017 letter, Sessions personally asked congressional leaders to repeal the [[Rohrabacher–Farr amendment]] so that the Justice Department could prosecute providers of [[medical marijuana]].<ref name="Ingraham">{{cite news |last=Ingraham |first=Christopher |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/06/13/jeff-sessions-personally-asked-congress-to-let-him-prosecute-medical-marijuana-providers/ |title=Jeff Sessions personally asked Congress to let him prosecute medical-marijuana providers |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=June 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704095547/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/06/13/jeff-sessions-personally-asked-congress-to-let-him-prosecute-medical-marijuana-providers/ |archive-date=July 4, 2017}}.</ref> The Rohrabacher–Farr amendment is a 2014 measure that bars the Justice Department from using federal funds to prevent states "from implementing their own State laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana".<ref name="Ingraham" /> Sessions wrote in the letter that "I believe it would be unwise for Congress to restrict the discretion of the Department to fund particular prosecutions, particularly in the midst of an historic drug epidemic and potentially long-term uptick in violent crime."<ref name="Ingraham" /> John Hudak of the [[Brookings Institution]] criticized the letter, stating that it was a "scare tactic" that "should make everyone openly question whether candidate Trump's rhetoric and the White House's words on his support for medical marijuana was actually a lie to the American public on an issue that garners broad, bipartisan support."<ref name="Ingraham" />

On January 4, 2018, Sessions rescinded the [[Cole Memorandum]], which had prevented federal prosecutors from bringing charges against state legalized marijuana use.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Savage |first1=Charlie |last2=Healy |first2=Jack |title=Trump Administration Takes Step That Could Threaten Marijuana Legalization Movement |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/04/us/politics/marijuana-legalization-justice-department-prosecutions.html |access-date=March 9, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=January 5, 2018 |page=A1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310025804/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/04/us/politics/marijuana-legalization-justice-department-prosecutions.html |archive-date=March 10, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Unite the Right rally violence and civil rights investigation ====

Sessions called the fatal [[vehicle-ramming attack]] at the August 2017 [[Unite the Right rally]] in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]] an act of [[domestic terrorism in the United States|domestic terrorism]], and began a [[civil rights]] investigation into the attack to determine if it will be tried in court as a [[hate crime]].<ref name="nyt-sessions">{{Cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Eileen |title=Sessions Says 'Evil Attack' in Virginia Is Domestic Terrorism |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/14/us/politics/domestic-terrorism-sessions.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=August 14, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814183121/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/14/us/politics/domestic-terrorism-sessions.html |archive-date=August 14, 2017|date=August 14, 2017 }}</ref> Sessions said "You can be sure we will charge and advance the investigation toward the most serious charges that can be brought, because this is an unequivocally unacceptable and evil attack that cannot be accepted in America."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Savage |first1=Charlie |last2=Ruiz |first2=Rebecca |title=Sessions Emerges as Forceful Figure in Condemning Charlottesville Violence |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/14/us/politics/domestic-terrorism-sessions.html |access-date=August 15, 2017 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 14, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816020634/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/14/us/politics/domestic-terrorism-sessions.html |archive-date=August 16, 2017}}</ref>

==== Gender identity ====

In a [[Dear colleague letter (United States)|"Dear Colleague" letter]] issued February 22, 2017, the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] (DOJ) and the [[United States Department of Education|Department of Education]] withdrew and rescinded the [[Gender identity under Title IX#2016 Dear Colleague letter|2016 "Dear Colleague" letter]] issued jointly by the same organizations.<ref name=DearColleague2017>{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/941551/download |title=Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students |date=February 22, 2017 |publisher=US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division; US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights |access-date=October 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904225904/https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/941551/download |archive-date=September 4, 2017}}</ref> The earlier "Dear Colleague" letter, issued on May 13, 2016, had established that [[Title IX]] of the [[Education Amendments of 1972]] allows access to sex-segregated facilities (such as restrooms) corresponding to a student's gender identity.<ref name=DearColleague2016>{{cite web |url=https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201605-title-ix-transgender.pdf |title=Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students |date=May 13, 2016 |publisher=US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division; US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights |access-date=October 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017204448/https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201605-title-ix-transgender.pdf |archive-date=October 17, 2017}}</ref> The 2017 letter argued that the 2016 letter lacked "extensive legal analysis", did not "explain how the position is consistent with the express language of Title IX", and it had not undergone "any formal public process".<ref name=DearColleague2017 /> Sessions issued a statement which said "Congress, state legislatures, and local governments are in a position to adopt appropriate policies or laws addressing this issue."<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/statement-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-withdrawal-title-ix-guidance |title=Statement by Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the Withdrawal of Title IX Guidance (no. 17-214) |date=February 22, 2017 |publisher=Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs |access-date=October 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012043706/https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/statement-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-withdrawal-title-ix-guidance |archive-date=October 12, 2017}}</ref>

On October 4, 2017, Sessions released a [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] (DoJ) memo interpreting [[Civil Rights Act of 1964#Title VII|Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act]], which prohibits discrimination based on sex, stating that Title VII "is ordinarily defined to mean [[sex assignment|biologically male or female]]," but it "does not prohibit discrimination based on gender identity ''per se''."<ref name="nbc-5oct2017">{{cite news |last1=Moreau |first1=Julie |title=Federal Civil Rights Law Doesn't Protect Transgender Workers, Justice Department Says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/federal-civil-rights-law-doesn-t-protect-transgender-workers-justice-n808126 |access-date=October 5, 2017 |newspaper=NBC News |date=October 5, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005214758/https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/federal-civil-rights-law-doesn-t-protect-transgender-workers-justice-n808126 |archive-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref><ref>[https://www.justice.gov/ag/page/file/1006981/download Revised Treatment of Transgender Employment Discrimination Claims Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964]</ref> The memo was written to withdraw an earlier DoJ memorandum issued by [[Eric Holder]] on December 15, 2014, which aligned the DoJ with the [[Equal Employment Opportunity Commission]] on interpreting Title VII to include gender identity or transgender status as a protected class. At that time, DoJ had already stopped opposing claims of discrimination brought by transgender federal employees.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/justice-department-announces-reversal-on-litigating-transgen |title=Justice Department Will Now Support Transgender Discrimination Claims In Litigation |author=Geidner, Chris |date=December 18, 2014 |newspaper=BuzzFeed News |access-date=October 5, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005202759/https://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/justice-department-announces-reversal-on-litigating-transgen |archive-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref> Devin O'Malley, representing the DoJ, stated "the last administration abandoned that fundamental principle [that the Department of Justice cannot expand the law beyond what Congress has provided], which necessitated today's action." [[Sharon McGowan]], a lawyer with [[Lambda Legal]] who previously served in the Civil Rights division of DoJ, rejected that argument, saying "this memo [issued by Sessions] is not actually a reflection of the law as it is{{snd}}it's a reflection of what the DOJ wishes the law were" and "[t]he Justice Department is actually getting back in the business of making anti-transgender law in court."<ref name=BF-171005>{{cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/dominicholden/jeff-sessions-just-reversed-a-policy-that-protects |title=Jeff Sessions Just Reversed A Policy That Protects Transgender Workers From Discrimination |author=Holden, Dominic |date=October 5, 2017 |newspaper=BuzzFeed News |access-date=October 5, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005155031/https://www.buzzfeed.com/dominicholden/jeff-sessions-just-reversed-a-policy-that-protects |archive-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref>

==== Turkey's sanctions against Sessions ====
[[File:Jefferson-Sessions-III-Resignation-Letter.pdf|alt=Jefferson Session Resignation Letter|thumb|upright=0.7|Sessions's resignation letter]]
On August 1, 2018, the U.S. Department of Treasury imposed sanctions on top [[Cabinet Erdoğan IV|Turkish government officials]] who were involved in the detention of American pastor [[Andrew Brunson]],<ref>{{cite news |title=US sanctions Turkish officials over detained pastor |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/01/trump-administration-to-sanction-turkish-officials-over-imprisonment-of-american-pastor-756896 |last1=Wilhelm |first1=Colin |last2=Toosi |first2=Nahal |work=[[Politico]] |date=August 1, 2018 |access-date=August 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926000148/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/01/trump-administration-to-sanction-turkish-officials-over-imprisonment-of-american-pastor-756896 |archive-date=September 26, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> who was arrested in October 2016, several months after a failed [[2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt|coup attempt in Turkey]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Andrew Brunson, U.S. Pastor, Moved to House Arrest in Turkey |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/25/world/middleeast/andrew-brunson-turkey.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 25, 2018 |access-date=August 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804170219/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/25/world/middleeast/andrew-brunson-turkey.html |archive-date=August 4, 2018 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> Turkey's president [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] ordered Sessions's assets in Turkey frozen in retaliation for U.S. sanctions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Erdogan sanctions US officials in tit-for-tat row over pastor |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20180804-erdogan-sanctions-us-officials-tit-tat-row-over-pastor |work=[[France 24]] |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=August 4, 2018 |access-date=August 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804154309/http://www.france24.com/en/20180804-erdogan-sanctions-us-officials-tit-tat-row-over-pastor |archive-date=August 4, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Resignation ===
On November 7, 2018 (the day after the [[2018 midterm elections]]), Sessions resigned as attorney general at the president's request.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://cbsnews.com/news/jeff-sessions-resigns-today-2018-11-07-live-updates/|title=Jeff Sessions resigns as attorney general|work=[[CBS News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107201329/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeff-sessions-resigns-today-2018-11-07-live-updates/|archive-date=November 7, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/attorney-general-jeff-sessions-resigns-at-trumps-request/2018/11/07/d1b7a214-e144-11e8-ab2c-b31dcd53ca6b_story.html |title=Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigns at Trump's request |last1=Barrett |first1=Devlin |last2=Zapotosky |first2=Matt |last3=Dawsey |first3=Josh |date=November 7, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118055812/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/attorney-general-jeff-sessions-resigns-at-trumps-request/2018/11/07/d1b7a214-e144-11e8-ab2c-b31dcd53ca6b_story.html |archive-date=November 18, 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=November 7, 2018|url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5029834-Sessions-resignation-letter.html |title=Sessions resignation letter – AP Staff upload |date=November 7, 2018 |via=DocumentCloud |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107211643/https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5029834-Sessions-resignation-letter.html |archive-date=November 7, 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=November 7, 2018}}</ref>

== U.S. Senate campaign (2020) ==
{{main|2020 United States Senate election in Alabama}}

[[Image:Jeff Sessions in June 2020.JPG|thumb|300px|right|Sessions at a press event in Birmingham, Alabama on June 24, 2020]]
In October 2019, Sessions began exploring a potential candidacy for his old Senate seat in the [[2020 United States Senate election in Alabama|2020 election]].<ref name=exploring>{{Cite news|url=https://newschannel9.com/news/election/ap-sources-jeff-sessions-exploring-possible-ala-senate-run|title=AP sources: Jeff Sessions exploring possible Ala. Senate run|last1=Chandler|first1=Kim|last2=Fram|first2=Alan|publisher=[[WTVC]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=October 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814172645/https://newschannel9.com/news/election/ap-sources-jeff-sessions-exploring-possible-ala-senate-run|archive-date=August 14, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 7, 2019, Sessions, the night before the deadline to file in the hyper-competitive Republican race, announced his candidacy. The winner of the Republican primary would challenge incumbent Democrat [[Doug Jones (politician)|Doug Jones]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/jeff-sessions-announces-senate-run-n1078561|title=Jeff Sessions announces Senate run|work=[[NBC News]]|last=Gregorian|first=Dareh|date=November 7, 2019|access-date=November 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324163831/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/jeff-sessions-announces-senate-run-n1078561|archive-date=March 24, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ag-jeff-sessions-announces-comeback-bid-alabama-senate/story?id=66803892|title=Former AG Jeff Sessions announces comeback bid for Alabama Senate seat|last1=Karl|first1=Jonathan|last2=Karson|first2=Kendall|last3=Scanlan|first3=Quinn|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=November 7, 2019|access-date=November 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920125706/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ag-jeff-sessions-announces-comeback-bid-alabama-senate/story?id=66803892|archive-date=September 20, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

With no candidate acquiring more than 50% of the vote in the Republican primary, Sessions advanced to the run-off originally to be held on March 31, but delayed until July 14 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsfa.com/2020/03/18/alabama-primary-runoff-election-delayed-covid-precaution/|title=Alabama primary runoff election delayed as COVID-19 precaution|publisher=[[WSFA]]|access-date=March 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630110442/https://www.wsfa.com/2020/03/18/alabama-primary-runoff-election-delayed-covid-precaution/|archive-date=June 30, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Sessions faced the former head football coach at Auburn University, [[Tommy Tuberville]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://time.com/5795315/jeff-sessions-to-face-tommy-tuberville-in-runoff-for-alabama-senate-seat/|title=Jeff Sessions Faces Runoff for Alabama Senate Seat|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=March 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305071831/https://time.com/5795315/jeff-sessions-to-face-tommy-tuberville-in-runoff-for-alabama-senate-seat/|archive-date=March 5, 2020}}</ref> During the primary, Alabama's senior senator [[Richard Shelby]] asked Trump to stay out of the race.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rawstory.com/2020/02/alabama-republicans-praying-trump-stays-out-of-their-senate-primary-election-report/|title=Alabama Republicans praying Trump stays out of their Senate primary election: report|last=Chapman|first=Matthew|website=rawstory.com|date=February 29, 2020|access-date=March 15, 2020}}</ref> However, after the first-round primary Trump endorsed Tuberville.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Haberman|first=Maggie|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/us/politics/trump-tommy-tuberville-sessions.html|title=Trump Endorses Tommy Tuberville (and Not Jeff Sessions) for Senate in Alabama|date=March 10, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 15, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Throughout the campaign, Sessions had called himself an ally and supporter of Trump. However, on April{{spaces}}3 the Trump campaign sent a letter to Sessions, objecting and condemning the connections that Sessions has made between him and Trump during the Senate race.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200403220434/https://time.com/5815451/trump-campaign-letter-delusional-sessions/ Time (magazine)]</ref>

Throughout the campaign Sessions repeatedly defended attacks from the President on Twitter.<ref>{{cite news |last=Romero |first=Dennis |date=May 22, 2020 |title=Jeff Sessions stands up to former boss Trump on Twitter |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/jeff-sessions-stands-former-boss-trump-twitter-n1213621 |work=[[NBC News]] |access-date=October 7, 2020}}</ref> On May 22, 2020, President Trump tweeted "3 years ago, after Jeff Sessions recused himself, the Fraudulent Mueller Scam began. Alabama, do not trust Jeff Sessions. He let our Country down{{spaces}}..."<ref>{{cite tweet |title=3 years ago, after Jeff Sessions recused himself, the Fraudulent Mueller Scam began. Alabama, do not trust Jeff Sessions. He let our Country down. That's why I endorsed Coach Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville), the true supporter of our #MAGA agenda! |user=realDonaldTrump|number=1263970567838932993  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214044803/https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1263970567838932993 |archive-date=December 14, 2020|access-date=October 7, 2020}}</ref> Sessions responded the next day by tweeting: "Mr. President, Alabama can and does trust me, as do conservatives across the country. Perhaps you've forgotten. They trusted me when I stepped out and put that trust on the line for you."<ref>{{cite tweet |user=jeffsessions|number=1264208610671943682 |access-date=October 7, 2020 |title=.@realDonaldTrump: Mr. President, Alabama can and does trust me, as do conservatives across the country. Perhaps you've forgotten. They trusted me when I stepped out and put that trust on the line for you.}}</ref> The President responded directly by continuing to deride Sessions, while further encouraging him to drop out of the race entirely.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=realDonaldTrump|number=1264328744682078208 |title=Jeff, you had your chance & you blew it. Recused yourself ON DAY ONE (you never told me of a problem), and ran for the hills. You had no courage, & ruined many lives. The dirty cops, & others, got caught by better & stronger people than you. Hopefully this slime will pay a big ...|access-date=October 7, 2020  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107041839/https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1264328744682078208 |archive-date=January 7, 2021}}</ref>

Sessions lost the Alabama Senate primary to Tommy Tuberville on July 14, 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/eb8d04c518fd8cb9d6d2d0eeef812ec6|title=Tuberville beats Sessions, wins Alabama Senate GOP primary|date=July 14, 2020|access-date=July 14, 2020|work=[[Associated Press]]|last1=Chandler|first1=Kim|last2=Barrow|first2=Bill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714142604/https://apnews.com/eb8d04c518fd8cb9d6d2d0eeef812ec6|archive-date=July 14, 2020}}</ref> A ''Washington Post'' headline read, "Sessions loses runoff in Alabama as Trump helps end career of key supporter he came to despise".<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020|title=Sessions loses runoff in Alabama as Trump helps end career of key supporter he came to despise|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sessions-tuberville-alabama-senate/2020/07/14/5643926e-c5ef-11ea-8ffe-372be8d82298_story.html}}</ref>

== Political positions ==

During his tenure, Sessions was considered one of the most conservative members of the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://politicalarithmetik.blogspot.com/2007/03/national-journal-2006.html |title=Political Arithmetik: National Journal 2006 Liberal/Conservative Scores |publisher=Political Arithmetik |first=Charles |last=Franklin |date=March 5, 2007 |access-date=August 29, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806160346/http://politicalarithmetik.blogspot.com/2007/03/national-journal-2006.html |archive-date=August 6, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lichtblau |first1=Eric |title=Jeff Sessions, as Attorney General, Could Overhaul Department He's Skewered |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/jeff-sessions-donald-trump-attorney-general.html |access-date=December 26, 2016 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211022403/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/jeff-sessions-donald-trump-attorney-general.html |archive-date=December 11, 2016}}</ref>

=== Immigration ===
{{update section|date=June 2018}}
[[File:Jeff Sessions by Gage Skidmore.jpg|left|thumb|upright|U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions addressing voters in 2011]]Sessions was an opponent of legal and illegal immigration during his time in Congress.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/jeff-sessions-views-attorney-general-233383|title=What Jeff Sessions thinks about immigration, police and terrorism|last1=Kim|first1=Seung Min|last2=Gerstein|first2=Josh|author-link=Seung Min Kim|work=[[Politico]]|access-date=February 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214142133/https://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/jeff-sessions-views-attorney-general-233383|archive-date=February 14, 2018|url-status=live|quote=Sessions has also long advocated for curbs to future legal immigration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/18/10-things-to-know-about-sen-jeff-sessions-donald-trumps-pick-for-attorney-general/ |title=10 things to know about Sen. Jeff Sessions, Donald Trump's pick for attorney general |last=Phillips |first=Amber |date=January 10, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118224511/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/18/10-things-to-know-about-sen-jeff-sessions-donald-trumps-pick-for-attorney-general/ |archive-date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |issn=0190-8286 |quote=He's also fought legal immigration, including guest worker programs for immigrants in the country illegally and visa programs for foreign workers in science, math and high-tech{{spaces}}... 'Legal immigration is the primary source of low-wage immigration into the United States,' Sessions argued in a 2015 Washington Post op-ed. '...{{spaces}}What we need now is immigration moderation: slowing the pace of new arrivals so that wages can rise, welfare rolls can shrink and the forces of assimilation can knit us all more closely together.'}}</ref> He opposed the [[Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006]], the [[Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007]] and the [[bi-partisan]] [[Gang of Eight (immigration)|Gang of Eight]]'s [[Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013]]. He said that a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants undermines the rule of law, that the inflow of guest workers and immigrants depresses wages and raises unemployment for United States citizens, and that current immigration policy expands an underclass dependent on the welfare state. In a May 2006 floor speech, he said, "Fundamentally, almost no one coming from the Dominican Republic to the United States is coming because they have a skill that would benefit us and that would indicate their likely success in our society."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weisman |first1=Jonathan |title=Senator Tries to Run Out the Clock on Immigration |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/us/politics/in-round-3-immigration-bill-faces-sessions-who-won-rounds-1-and-2.html |access-date=November 20, 2016 |work=The New York Times |date=June 17, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119074735/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/us/politics/in-round-3-immigration-bill-faces-sessions-who-won-rounds-1-and-2.html |archive-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fabian |first1=Jordan |title=Sessions Wants to Crush Imm. Reform |url=https://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Politics/jeff-sessions-kill-immigration-reform-bill-thing/story?id=19311727 |access-date=November 20, 2016 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=June 4, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117114336/http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Politics/jeff-sessions-kill-immigration-reform-bill-thing/story?id=19311727 |archive-date=November 17, 2016}}</ref> He is a supporter of [[E-Verify]], the federal database that allows businesses to electronically verify the immigration status of potential new hires,<ref>{{cite news |last=Doyle |first=Steve |title=Senate extends E-Verify through Oct. 31 |url=http://blog.al.com/breaking/2009/10/senate_extends_e-verify_throug.html |access-date=September 16, 2011 |newspaper=Huntsville Times |date=October 1, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701164149/http://blog.al.com/breaking/2009/10/senate_extends_e-verify_throug.html |archive-date=July 1, 2012}}</ref> and has advocated for expanded construction of a [[Mexico–United States barrier|Southern border fence]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bunis |first=Dena |title=Border fence bill may race the clock |url=http://www.ocregister.com/2006/09/29/border-fence-bill-may-race-the-clock-2/ |access-date=September 16, 2011 |newspaper=Orange County Register |date=September 29, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422133551/http://www.ocregister.com/2006/09/29/border-fence-bill-may-race-the-clock-2/ |archive-date=April 22, 2017}}</ref> In 2013, Sessions said an opt-out provision in immigration legislation before Congress would allow [[Secretary of Homeland Security]] [[Janet Napolitano]] to avoid building a border fence. [[PolitiFact]] called Session's statement false, stating that the provision would allow Napolitano to determine where the fence was built, not to opt out of building it entirely.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sen. Jeff Sessions says immigration bill has provision that lets Janet Napolitano skip fence |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2013/jun/27/jeff-sessions/sen-jeff-sessions-says-immigration-bill-has-provis/ |access-date=August 16, 2014 |work=Tampa Bay Times |publisher=Politifact |date=June 27, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819125739/http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2013/jun/27/jeff-sessions/sen-jeff-sessions-says-immigration-bill-has-provis/ |archive-date=August 19, 2014}}</ref>

Sessions's Senate website expressed his view that there is a "clear nexus between immigration and terrorism" and that "Plainly, there is no way to vet these refugees" who would immigrate to the U.S. from Syria in 2016 or who came to the U.S. after September 11, 2001, and were alleged to be involved in terrorism. The news release said that "the absence of derogatory information in our systems about an individual does not mean that admitting that individual carries no risk."<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907011000/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=FE9403D1-FBD1-4BCC-A0F9-16566A09079E |url=http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=FE9403D1-FBD1-4BCC-A0F9-16566A09079E |date=August 10, 2016 |archive-date=September 7, 2016 |title=Sessions: Refugee Terrorism Increases while Obama administration increases flow  }}</ref> Sessions has expressed the view that the children of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries are "susceptible to the toxic radicalization of terrorist organizations" on the basis of the [[Orlando nightclub shooting|Orlando]] and [[2015 San Bernardino attack|San Bernardino attacks]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=79E3F76F-9430-48C6-9957-534C3106434F |title=Sessions Issues Statement on Orlando Terrorist Attack |date=June 13, 2016 |publisher=Sessions.Senate.gov |quote=While the vast majority of Muslims are law-abiding and peaceful, we must face the uncomfortable reality that not only are immigrants from Muslim-majority countries coming to the United States, radicalizing, and attempting to engage in acts of terrorism, such as in Boston and Chattanooga; but also, their first-generation American children are susceptible to the toxic radicalization of terrorist organizations. We saw it in San Bernardino just six months ago, and in Orlando yesterday. |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109030301/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=79E3F76F-9430-48C6-9957-534C3106434F |archive-date=November 9, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/283351-gop-senators-rips-obama-on-terrorism-after-shooting/ |title=Sessions links terrorism to immigration, radicalization |newspaper=The Hill |date=June 13, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007020209/http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/283351-gop-senators-rips-obama-on-terrorism-after-shooting |archive-date=October 7, 2016}}</ref> Sessions supported establishing safe zones as an alternative to immigration from war-torn countries.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108223311/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=B60432D7-B5D7-49D4-9A5B-83A2FE24BFA2 |url=http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=B60432D7-B5D7-49D4-9A5B-83A2FE24BFA2 |archive-date=November 8, 2016 |date=September 28, 2016 |title=Sessions Delivers Opening Statement on Obama Administration's Plan to Admit 110,000 New Refugees into U.S.  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/03/politics/donald-trump-jeff-sessions-national-security/ |title=Trump taps Sessions to lead national security efforts |date=March 3, 2016 |publisher=CNN |first=Tom |last=LoBianco |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304193645/http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/03/politics/donald-trump-jeff-sessions-national-security/ |archive-date=March 4, 2017}}</ref>

[[Breitbart News]] executive chairman [[Steve Bannon]] talked about Sessions as the leader of the movement for slowing down both legal and illegal immigration before [[Donald Trump]] came to the scene, considering his work to kill immigration reform as akin "to the civil rights movement of 1960". Sessions and his communications director [[Stephen Miller (aide)|Stephen Miller]] developed what Miller describes as "nation-state populism" as a response to globalization and immigration.<ref name="jioffe1">{{cite news |last1=Ioffe |first1=Julia |author-link=Julia Ioffe |title=The Believer |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/06/stephen-miller-donald-trump-2016-policy-adviser-jeff-sessions-213992/ |access-date=August 6, 2016 |work=[[Politico Magazine]] |date=June 27, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805070322/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/06/stephen-miller-donald-trump-2016-policy-adviser-jeff-sessions-213992 |archive-date=August 5, 2016}}</ref>

Immigration is the issue that brought Sessions and Trump together.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=When Jeff Sessions Calls, Donald Trump Listens |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2016/07/01/jeff-sessions-donald-trump-472931.html |magazine=Newsweek |first=Matthew |last=Cooper |date=June 22, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303230316/http://www.newsweek.com/2016/07/01/jeff-sessions-donald-trump-472931.html |archive-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref> Trump has credited Sessions as an influential advisor on immigration.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/08/17/jeb-bush-on-donald-trumps-immigration-ideas-a-plan-needs-to-be-grounded-in-reality/ |newspaper=Washington Post |title=Jeb Bush on Donald Trump's immigration ideas: 'A plan needs to be grounded in reality' |first=Ed |last=O'Keefe |date=August 17, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304194018/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/08/17/jeb-bush-on-donald-trumps-immigration-ideas-a-plan-needs-to-be-grounded-in-reality/ |archive-date=March 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204085359/http://www.donaldjtrump.com/media/donald-trump-releases-immigration-reform-plan-designed-to-get-americans-bac |url=https://www.donaldjtrump.com/media/donald-trump-releases-immigration-reform-plan-designed-to-get-americans-bac |title=Donald Trump Releases Immigration Reform Plan Designed to Get Americans Back to Work |date=August 16, 2015 |website=DonaldJTrump.com|archive-date=February 4, 2016 |quote=The ['detailed policy position'/'immigration reform plan'], which was clearly influenced by Sen. Jeff Sessions who Trump consulted to help with immigration policy{{spaces}}...}}</ref> After Trump was elected and announced Sessions as his attorney general nominee, [[Cato Institute]] immigration analyst [[Alex Nowrasteh]] observed "It's almost as if Sessions wrote Trump's immigration platform."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article115714488.html |title=Attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions wants to hold the line on legal immigration, too |date=November 18, 2016 |first1=Michael |last1=Doyle |first2=Anna |last2=Douglas |first3=William |last3=Douglas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304194931/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article115714488.html |archive-date=March 4, 2017}}</ref>

On June 18, 2018, a group of more than 600 [[United Methodist Church]] clergy and laity announced that they were bringing church law charges against Sessions. The members of the group accused him of "child abuse, immorality, racial discrimination and dissemination of doctrines contrary to the standards of the doctrine of the United Methodist Church".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsfa.com/story/38450661/faith-leaders-call-family-separation-cruel-and-detrimental/ | title=Hundreds of United Methodist clergy bring church charges against Jeff Sessions | publisher=[[WSFA]] | access-date=June 19, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619022637/http://www.wsfa.com/story/38450661/faith-leaders-call-family-separation-cruel-and-detrimental | archive-date=June 19, 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

According to the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] (ACLU), a woman and her child fled domestic abuse in El Salvador to seek asylum in the U.S. However the mother was removed from her detention facility and likely put on a plane on August 9, 2018, despite Justice Department promises that she and others would not be deported before the judge could rule on their cases. Judge [[Emmet G. Sullivan]] demanded, "Turn that plane around." He threatened to hold those responsible for the removal in contempt of court, starting with Sessions, if the situation was not rectified. A Department of Homeland Security official stated, "We are complying with the court's requests{{spaces}}... the plaintiffs will not disembark and will be promptly returned to the United States." An ACLU suit challenged a decision by Sessions to make it nearly impossible for victims of domestic violence and gangs to qualify for asylum in the U.S.<ref>[https://www.wkrg.com/news/local-news/judge-threatens-to-hold-jeff-sessions-in-contempt/1357404405 Judge threatens to hold Jeff Sessions in contempt Mobile native's Justice Department deported woman] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810153353/https://www.wkrg.com/news/local-news/judge-threatens-to-hold-jeff-sessions-in-contempt/1357404405 |date=August 10, 2018 }}, ''[[WKRG]]'', Peter Albrecht, August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.</ref>

=== Foreign and military policy ===
[[File:U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions speaks during Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) 2012 in Nashville, TN.jpg|thumb|Senator Sessions speaks during Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) 2012 in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].]]
In 2005, Sessions spoke at a rally in [[Washington, D.C.]] in favor of the [[War in Iraq]] organized in opposition to an [[anti-war protest]] held the day before. Sessions said of the anti-war protesters: "The group who spoke here the other day did not represent the American ideals of freedom, liberty and spreading that around the world. I frankly don't know what they represent, other than to blame America first."<ref>Foley, Brian J. (October 1, 2005). [http://www.antiwar.com/orig/foley.php?articleid=7467 "I Gave My Copy of the Constitution to a Pro-War Veteran"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312042918/http://www.antiwar.com/orig/foley.php?articleid=7467 |date=March 12, 2008 }}, Antiwar.com.</ref> The same year, he opposed legislation by Senator [[John McCain]] prohibiting the U.S. military from engaging in torture; the amendment passed 90–9.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/18/trump-cabinet-appointments-sessions-pompeo-flynn |title=Trump cabinet appointments will 'undo decades of progress', rights activists say |date=November 18, 2016 |work=The Guardian |last2=Glenza |first2=Jessica |issn=0261-3077 |last3=Smith |first3=David |last1=Ackerman |first1=Spencer |access-date=November 19, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119025357/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/18/trump-cabinet-appointments-sessions-pompeo-flynn |archive-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref>

Sessions opposed the [[NATO bombing of Yugoslavia]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Jessica |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |url=https://www.msnbc.com/the-daily-rundown/past-prologue-how-senators-voted-iraq |title=Past as prologue? How Senators voted on Iraq and Kosovo |date=September 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910041157/http://www.msnbc.com/the-daily-rundown/past-prologue-how-senators-voted-iraq |archive-date=September 10, 2017}}</ref> the [[2011 military intervention in Libya]],<ref>{{Cite news |work=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/04/gopers-oppose-libya-intervention-052599 |title=GOPers oppose Libya intervention |date=April 5, 2017 |last=Shiner |first=Meredith |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910040730/http://www.politico.com/story/2011/04/gopers-oppose-libya-intervention-052599 |archive-date=September 10, 2017}}</ref> and [[Timber Sycamore|arming the Syrian rebels]].<ref>{{Cite news |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/senators-voted-against-funding-syrian-rebels-against-isis |title=Which senators voted against funding Syrian rebels against ISIS? |date=September 18, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910041605/http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/senators-voted-against-funding-syrian-rebels-against-isis |archive-date=September 10, 2017}}</ref> As Attorney General, he reportedly advised President Trump against increasing the U.S. military presence in [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]].<ref>{{cite news |work=[[Weekly Standard]] |title=White House Watch: Trump Decides on Afghanistan Troop Surge |date=August 21, 2017 |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/white-house-watch-trump-decides-on-afghanistan-troop-surge/article/2009362 |access-date=September 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912010155/http://www.weeklystandard.com/white-house-watch-trump-decides-on-afghanistan-troop-surge/article/2009362 |archive-date=September 12, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the 109th Congress, Sessions introduced legislation to increase the death gratuity benefit for families of service members from $12,420 to $100,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/77/text |title=S.77 – HEROES Act of 2005 |publisher=Library of Congress |date=January 24, 2005}}</ref> The bill also increased the level of coverage under the [[Servicemen's Group Life Insurance]] from $250,000 to $400,000. Sessions's legislation was accepted in the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=LegislativeResources.FloorStatements&ContentRecord_id=F47F3278-7E9C-9AF9-71D5-0E5838E76081/ |title=Congressional Record, August 14, 2005 |publisher=Sessions.senate.gov |access-date=August 7, 2011  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721062607/http://sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=LegislativeResources.FloorStatements&ContentRecord_id=F47F3278-7E9C-9AF9-71D5-0E5838E76081%2F |archive-date=July 21, 2011}}</ref>

In June 2014, Sessions was one of three senators to vote against additional funding for the [[Veterans Affairs|VA]] medical system. He opposed the bill due to cost concerns and indicated that Congress should instead focus on "reforms and solutions that improve the quality of service and the effectiveness that is delivered".<ref>{{cite news |title=VFW attacks the three Republicans who voted against Senate VA bill |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2014/06/13/vfw-attacks-the-three-republicans-who-voted-against-the-senate-va-bill/ |last=Hicks |first=Josh |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=June 13, 2014 |access-date=June 18, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618083228/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2014/06/13/vfw-attacks-the-three-republicans-who-voted-against-the-senate-va-bill/ |archive-date=June 18, 2014 |url-access=limited}}</ref>

In September 2016, in advance of a [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334|UN Security Council resolution 2334]] condemning [[Israeli settlement]]s in the occupied [[Palestinian territories]], Sessions signed an [[AIPAC]]-sponsored letter urging President Barack Obama to veto "one-sided" resolutions against Israel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Text of Rounds Gillibrand Letter |url=https://www.aipac.org/-/media/publications/policy-and-politics/aipac-analyses/issue-memos/2015/text-of-rounds-gillibrand-letter.pdf  |date=September 19, 2016 |access-date=June 27, 2019 |archive-date=February 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224155710/https://www.aipac.org/-/media/publications/policy-and-politics/aipac-analyses/issue-memos/2015/text-of-rounds-gillibrand-letter.pdf }}</ref>

=== Crime and security ===
[[File:Mike Pence & Jeff Sessions (29299670541).jpg|thumb|Senator Sessions and Indiana Governor, and Republican vice presidential nominee, [[Mike Pence]] at an immigration policy speech in [[Phoenix, Arizona]] in August 2016]]
[[File:29th annual Candlelight Vigil (33853917764).jpg|thumb|Sessions speaking at the 2017 [[Police Week]] Candlelight Vigil]]
In 1996, Sessions promoted state legislation in Alabama that sought to punish a second drug trafficking conviction, including for dealing marijuana, with a mandatory minimum death sentence.<ref>{{cite news |last1=John J. Donohue III |last2=Max Schoening |title=Did Jeff Sessions forget wanting to execute pot dealers? |url=https://theconversation.com/did-jeff-sessions-forget-wanting-to-execute-pot-dealers-71694 |access-date=May 20, 2017 |work=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] |date=January 23, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528214306/https://theconversation.com/did-jeff-sessions-forget-wanting-to-execute-pot-dealers-71694 |archive-date=May 28, 2017|author1-link=John J. Donohue III }}</ref> Sessions's views on drugs and crime have since softened.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ciaramella |first1=C.J. |title=Here's That Time Jeff Sessions Wanted to Execute Drug Dealers |url=http://reason.com/blog/2017/02/01/heres-that-time-jeff-sessions-wanted-to |access-date=May 20, 2017 |work=[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]] |date=February 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523012228/http://reason.com/blog/2017/02/01/heres-that-time-jeff-sessions-wanted-to |archive-date=May 23, 2017}}</ref>

Sessions supported the reduction (but not the elimination) of the sentencing disparity between crack cocaine and powdered cocaine, ultimately passed into law with the [[Fair Sentencing Act 2010]].<ref name="al1" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Obama signs bill reducing cocaine sentencing gap – CNN.com |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/08/03/fair.sentencing/ |agency=CNN |date=August 3, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117000632/http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/08/03/fair.sentencing/ |archive-date=November 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Amber |title=10 things to know about Sen. Jeff Sessions, Donald Trump's pick for attorney general |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/18/10-things-to-know-about-sen-jeff-sessions-donald-trumps-pick-for-attorney-general/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118224511/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/18/10-things-to-know-about-sen-jeff-sessions-donald-trumps-pick-for-attorney-general/ |archive-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref>

On October 5, 2005, Sessions was one of nine senators who voted against a Senate amendment to [[Public Law 109-148|a House bill]] that prohibited [[torture|cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment]] of individuals in the custody or under the physical control of the United States Government.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/109-2005/s249 |title=On the Amendment S.Amdt. 1977 to H.R. 2863 (Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006) |date=October 5, 2005 |publisher=GovTrack |access-date=November 19, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118224353/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/109-2005/s249 |archive-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref>

In November 2010, Sessions was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee when the committee voted unanimously in favor of the [[Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act]] (COICA), and sent the bill to the full Senate for consideration.<ref name="S3804report">"[https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/111th-congress/senate-report/373 S. Rept. 111-373{{snd}}Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117144932/https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/111th-congress/senate-report/373 |date=November 17, 2016 }}" (December 17, 2010). Senate committee report, 111th Congress. Congress.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2016.</ref> The proposed law would allow the attorney general to ask a court to issue a restraining order on Internet [[domain name]]s that host copyright-infringing material.<ref name="S3804report" />

In October 2015, Sessions opposed Chairman [[Chuck Grassley]]'s (R-IA) [[Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act]], a bipartisan bill which sought to reduce mandatory minimum sentences for some nonviolent crimes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Seung Min |author-link=Seung Min Kim |title=Senators plan to revive sentencing reform push |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/senate-criminal-justice-sentencing-reform-233071 |access-date=May 20, 2017 |work=[[Politico]] |date=January 4, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519192203/http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/senate-criminal-justice-sentencing-reform-233071 |archive-date=May 19, 2017}}</ref> The [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary]] approved the bill by a vote of 15–5.<ref>{{USBill|114|S|2123}}, 114th Cong. (2015).</ref> According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', Sessions, [[Tom Cotton]], and [[David Perdue]] "stalled the bill in the Senate and sapped momentum from a simultaneous House effort". Senator [[Dick Durbin]] (D-IL), a co-sponsor of the bill, has said Sessions was its top opponent.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hulse |first1=Carl |title=Unity Was Emerging on Sentencing. Then Came Jeff Sessions. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/14/us/politics/jeff-sessions-criminal-sentencing.html |access-date=May 20, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 15, 2017 |page=A13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520105106/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/14/us/politics/jeff-sessions-criminal-sentencing.html |archive-date=May 20, 2017}}</ref>

Sessions has been a strong supporter of [[Civil forfeiture in the United States|civil forfeiture]], the government practice of seizing property when it has allegedly been involved in a crime.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/home/civil-forfeiture-finds-a-champion-commentary |title=Civil Forfeiture Finds A Champion {{!}} Commentary|date=May 13, 2015|newspaper=Roll Call|access-date=November 18, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119032434/http://www.rollcall.com/news/home/civil-forfeiture-finds-a-champion-commentary|archive-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref> Sessions opposes "any reform" of civil forfeiture legislation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/04/15/grassley-clashes-with-police-association-over-controversial-asset-seizures/ |title=Grassley clashes with police association over controversial asset seizures |last=O'Harrow |first=Robert |date=April 15, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118224427/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/04/15/grassley-clashes-with-police-association-over-controversial-asset-seizures/ |archive-date=November 18, 2016 |url-access=limited}}</ref>

From March 2018 until the end of his service as attorney general, Sessions sat on the [[Federal Commission on School Safety]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ed.gov/school-safety|title=Federal Commission on School Safety|publisher=United States Department of Education|access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref>

=== Economic issues ===

Sessions voted for the [[Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001|2001]] and [[Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003|2003 Bush tax cuts]], and said he would vote to make them permanent if given the chance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.issues2000.org/Economic/Jeff_Sessions_Tax_Reform.htm |title=Jeff Sessions on Tax Reform |publisher=Issues2000 |access-date=August 29, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309145116/http://www.issues2000.org/Economic/Jeff_Sessions_Tax_Reform.htm |archive-date=March 9, 2012}}</ref> He is a signer of [[Americans for Tax Reform#Taxpayer Protection Pledge|Americans for Tax Reform]]'s [[Taxpayer Protection Pledge]].<ref name="ATR">{{cite web |title=The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers 112th Congressional List |url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/atrfiles/files/files/091411-federalpledgesigners.pdf |publisher=Americans for Tax Reform |access-date=November 30, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107102835/http://s3.amazonaws.com/atrfiles/files/files/091411-federalpledgesigners.pdf |archive-date=January 7, 2012}}</ref>

Sessions was one of 25 senators to vote against the [[Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008]] (the bank bailout), arguing that it "undermines our heritage of law and order, and is an affront to the principle of separation of powers".<ref>Jerry Underwood, [http://www.al.com/business/birminghamnews/junderwood.ssf?/base/business/1226826984175590.xml&coll=2 "Senator Shelby wants auto bailout put in neutral"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226052101/http://www.al.com/business/birminghamnews/junderwood.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fbusiness%2F1226826984175590.xml&coll=2 |date=February 26, 2010 }}, ''Birmingham News'', November 16, 2008.</ref>

Sessions opposed the $837{{spaces}}billion [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]], calling it "the largest spending bill in the history of the republic".<ref>{{cite news |title=Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions among GOP senators fighting stimulus package |last=Orndorff |first=Mary |url=http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/statebriefs.ssf?/base/news/1233306965206530.xml&coll=2 |access-date=September 16, 2011 |newspaper=Birmingham News |date=January 30, 2009  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118101101/http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/statebriefs.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews%2F1233306965206530.xml&coll=2 |archive-date=January 18, 2012}}</ref> In late 2011 he also expressed skepticism about the $447{{spaces}}billion [[American Jobs Act|jobs bill]] proposed by President Obama, and disputed the notion that the bill would be paid for without adding to the national debt.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dwyer |first=Devin |title=Republicans Demand to See Fine Print of Obama's Jobs Plan |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/09/obama-jobs-plan-lacks-fine-print-on-interest-costs-deficit/ |access-date=September 16, 2011 |work=ABC News |date=September 15, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915171814/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/09/obama-jobs-plan-lacks-fine-print-on-interest-costs-deficit/ |archive-date=September 15, 2011}}</ref>

=== Higher education and research ===

In 2013, Sessions sent a letter to [[National Endowment for the Humanities]] (NEH) enquiring why the foundation funded projects that he deemed frivolous.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.chronicle.com/article/Senator-Demands-Explanations/142599/ |title=Senator Demands Explanations From Humanities Endowment |date=October 24, 2013 |newspaper=The Chronicle of Higher Education|access-date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118224832/http://www.chronicle.com/article/Senator-Demands-Explanations/142599/ |archive-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref> He also criticized the foundation for distributing books related to Islam to hundreds of U.S. libraries, saying "Using taxpayer dollars to fund education program grant questions that are very indefinite or in an effort to seemingly use Federal funds on behalf of just one religion, does not on its face appear to be the appropriate means to establish confidence in the American people that NEH expenditures are wise."<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/115333/senator-jeff-sessions-threatens-neh-budget-over-islam-humanities |title=Senator Outraged that National Endowment for the Humanities Funds Study of Humanities |last=Caplan-Bricker |first=Nora |date=October 24, 2013 |magazine=The New Republic|access-date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119055551/https://newrepublic.com/article/115333/senator-jeff-sessions-threatens-neh-budget-over-islam-humanities |archive-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref>

=== Social issues ===

Sessions voted against the [[Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act|Matthew Shepard Act]], which added acts of bias-motivated violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity to federal hate-crimes law,<ref name="issues2000.org">{{cite web |title=Jeff Sessions – Civil Rights |publisher=Issues2000 |url=http://www.issues2000.org/Domestic/Jeff_Sessions_Civil_Rights.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309145246/http://www.issues2000.org/Domestic/Jeff_Sessions_Civil_Rights.htm |archive-date=March 9, 2012}}</ref> commenting that it "has been said to cheapen the civil rights movement".<ref>{{cite web |title=congress.gov |url=https://www.congress.gov/amendment/111th-congress/senate-amendment/1617/text |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120085039/https://www.congress.gov/amendment/111th-congress/senate-amendment/1617/text |archive-date=November 20, 2016|date=July 20, 2009 }}</ref> Sessions "believes that a marriage is union between a man and a woman, and has routinely criticized the U.S. Supreme Court and activist lower courts when they try to judicially redefine marriage".<ref name="senatePage">{{cite web |url=http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/family |title=Protecting Traditional Alabama Values |access-date=December 16, 2016  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208022038/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/family |archive-date=December 8, 2016}}</ref> Sessions voted in favor of advancing the [[Federal Marriage Amendment]] in 2004 and 2006, a U.S. constitutional amendment which would have permanently restricted federal recognition of marriages to those between a man and a woman.<ref name="issues2000.org" /> Sessions voted against the [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00281 |title=Senate roll call vote on the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 |website=Senate.gov |access-date=August 7, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804041751/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00281 |archive-date=August 4, 2011}}</ref>

Sessions has also said regarding the appointment of a gay Supreme Court justice, "I do not think that a person who acknowledges that they have gay tendencies is disqualified, per se, for the job"<ref>{{cite news |title=Sessions open to a gay-tending justice |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2009/05/sessions-open-to-a-gay-tending-justice-018193 |last=Smith |first=Ben |author-link=Ben Smith (journalist) |date=May 7, 2009 |work=[[Politico]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119120214/http://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2009/05/sessions-open-to-a-gay-tending-justice-018193 |archive-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref> but "that would be a big concern that the American people might feel{{snd}}might feel uneasy about that."<ref name=huffingtonpost>{{cite news |last=Linkins |first=Jason |title=Sessions: Gay Supreme Court Nominee "Would Be A Big Concern" |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/08/republicans-gay-scotus-ju_n_199079.html |work=Huffington Post |date=May 8, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113080146/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/08/republicans-gay-scotus-ju_n_199079.html |archive-date=November 13, 2012}}</ref>

Sessions is against legalizing marijuana for either recreational or medicinal use. "I'm a big fan of the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]]," he said during a hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee.<ref>{{cite news |title=Obama's DEA Nominee Pledges To Ignore Administration's Medical Marijuana Policy |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-armentano/obamas-dea-nominee-pledge_b_785630.html |last1=Armentano |first1=Paul |last2=Earleywine |first2=Mitch |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522183045/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-armentano/obamas-dea-nominee-pledge_b_785630.html |archive-date=May 22, 2014|date=November 19, 2010 }}</ref> Sessions was "heartbroken" and found "it beyond comprehension" when President Obama said that cannabis is not as dangerous as alcohol.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jeff Sessions: Marijuana Can't Be Safer Than Alcohol Because 'Lady Gaga Says She's Addicted To It' |website=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2014/01/29/jeff-sessions-marijuana-cant-be-safer-than-alcohol-because-lady-gaga-says-shes-addicted-to-it/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629082919/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2014/01/29/jeff-sessions-marijuana-cant-be-safer-than-alcohol-because-lady-gaga-says-shes-addicted-to-it/ |archive-date=June 29, 2017}}</ref> In April 2016, he said that it was important to foster "knowledge that this drug is dangerous, you cannot play with it, it is not funny, it's not something to laugh about{{spaces}}... and to send that message with clarity that good people don't smoke marijuana."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/04/05/senators-one-sided-marijuana-hearing-is-heavy-on-anecdote-light-on-data/ |title=Senators held a hearing to remind you that 'good people don't smoke marijuana' (yes, really) |last=Ingraham |first=Christopher |date=April 5, 2016 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118224451/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/04/05/senators-one-sided-marijuana-hearing-is-heavy-on-anecdote-light-on-data/ |archive-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref> In March 2017, prepared remarks for a speech of his called cannabis "only slightly less awful" than [[heroin]], and he argued that "lives [were] at stake" in legalizing the drug.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sifferlin|first=Alexandra|date=March 16, 2017|title=Jeff Sessions Says Marijuana Is Only 'Slightly Less Awful' Than Heroin. Science Says He's Wrong|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=https://time.com/4703888/jeff-sessions-marijuana-heroin-opioid/|url-status=live|access-date=December 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112025010/https://time.com/4703888/jeff-sessions-marijuana-heroin-opioid/|archive-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Jeff Sessions by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|right|thumb|Jeff Sessions speaking at the [[Values Voter Summit]] in Washington, D.C.]]
Sessions believes "that sanctity of life begins at conception".<ref name="senatePage" />

Sessions was one of 34 senators to vote against<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00127 |title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote |access-date=December 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110125723/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00127 |archive-date=November 10, 2016}}</ref> the [[Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act]] of 2007,<ref>{{cite web |title=S.5 – Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/5?r=1 |access-date=December 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220140203/https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/5?r=1 |archive-date=December 20, 2016|date=June 20, 2007 }}</ref> which was vetoed by President Bush and would have provided funding for human [[embryonic stem cell]] research.

=== Health care reform ===

In 2006, Sessions coauthored legislation amending the [[Ryan White CARE Act]] to increase the share of [[HIV/AIDS]] funding going to rural states, including Alabama.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alexovich |first1=Ariel |title=Sessions urges money for AIDS prevention |url=http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20060504/sessions-urges-money-for-aids-prevention |work=Tuscaloosa News |date=May 4, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120010718/http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20060504/sessions-urges-money-for-aids-prevention |archive-date=November 20, 2016}}</ref>

Sessions opposed President Barack Obama's health reform legislation; he voted against the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] in December 2009,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00396 |title=On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 3590 as Amended ) |publisher=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home |access-date=August 7, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718202033/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00396 |archive-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> and he voted against the [[Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00105 |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote |website=Senate.gov |access-date=August 29, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804082122/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00105 |archive-date=August 4, 2010}}</ref>

Following Senator [[Ted Cruz]]'s 21-hour speech opposing the Affordable Care Act in 2013, Sessions joined Cruz and 17 other senators in a failed vote against cloture on a comprehensive government funding bill that would have continued funding healthcare reform.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/ted-cruz-government-shutdown-republicans-097466 |title=Twenty-five Republicans buck Cruz on shutdown |last=Kim |first=Seung Min |author-link=Seung Min Kim |work=[[Politico]] |date=September 27, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930200550/http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/ted-cruz-government-shutdown-republicans-97466.html |archive-date=September 30, 2013}}</ref>

=== Energy and environment ===
[[File:Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference London 2018 (44523848554) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Sessions speaks at the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London in 2018.]]
Sessions rejects the [[scientific consensus on climate change]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/18/10-things-to-know-about-sen-jeff-sessions-donald-trumps-pick-for-attorney-general/ |last=Phillips |first=Amber |title=10 things to know about Sen. Jeff Sessions, Donald Trump's pick for attorney general |date=November 18, 2016 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118224511/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/18/10-things-to-know-about-sen-jeff-sessions-donald-trumps-pick-for-attorney-general/ |archive-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref> He has voted in favor of legislation that would bar the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] from regulating greenhouse gases.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/SenateVote/Party_11-SV054.htm |title=Senate Votes on 11-SV054 |website=ontheissues.org|access-date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630154242/http://www.ontheissues.org/SenateVote/Party_11-SV054.htm |archive-date=June 30, 2016}}</ref> He has voted to open the [[Arctic Refuge drilling controversy|Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/International/Jeff_Sessions_Energy_+_Oil.htm |title=Jeff Sessions on Energy & Oil |access-date=January 8, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301235747/http://www.ontheissues.org/International/Jeff_Sessions_Energy_+_Oil.htm |archive-date=March 1, 2017}}</ref> Sessions is a proponent of nuclear power.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2009/7/sessions-speaks-on-his-support-of-nuclear-power |title=Sessions Speaks on his Support of Nuclear Power – Floor Statements |last=Sessions |first=Jeff |access-date=January 8, 2017  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109114217/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2009/7/sessions-speaks-on-his-support-of-nuclear-power |archive-date=January 9, 2017}}</ref>

=== Judicial nominations ===

As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sessions defended unsuccessful circuit court nominee [[Charles W. Pickering]] against allegations of racism, saying he was "a leader for racial harmony".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nichols |first1=John |title=Pickering Nomination Blocked |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/pickering-nomination-blocked/ |access-date=May 24, 2017 |work=[[The Nation]] |date=March 15, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814225849/https://www.thenation.com/article/pickering-nomination-blocked/ |archive-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref> Sessions rejected criticisms of successful circuit court nominee [[Dennis Shedd]]'s record, saying he "should have been commended for the rulings he has made".<ref name=newrepublicNOV16 /><ref>[https://www.congress.gov/nomination/107th-congress/888 Presidential Nomination 888] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618105413/https://www.congress.gov/nomination/107th-congress/888 |date=June 18, 2017 }}, 107th Cong. (2002).</ref> In 2003, Sessions viewed criticisms of Alabama Attorney General [[William H. Pryor Jr.]]'s ultimately successful circuit court appointment as being due to his faith, stating that "Are we not saying that good Catholics need not apply?"<ref>[https://www.congress.gov/nomination/108th-congress/512 Presidential Nomination 512] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429014014/https://www.congress.gov/nomination/108th-congress/512 |date=April 29, 2017 }}, 108th Cong. (2003).</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Neil A. |title=BYPASSING SENATE FOR SECOND TIME, BUSH SEATS JUDGE |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/21/us/bypassing-senate-for-second-time-bush-seats-judge.html |access-date=May 24, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 21, 2004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814223758/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/21/us/bypassing-senate-for-second-time-bush-seats-judge.html |archive-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref>

Sessions was a supporter of the "[[nuclear option]]", a tactic considered by then-[[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Majority Leader]] [[Bill Frist]] in the spring of 2005 to change longstanding Senate rules to stop Democratic [[filibuster]]s (or, "talking a bill to death") of some of [[List of federal judges appointed by George W. Bush|George W. Bush's nominees to the federal courts]]. When the "[[Gang of 14]]" group of moderate senators reached an agreement to allow filibusters under "extraordinary circumstances", Sessions accepted the agreement but argued that "a return to the tradition of up-or-down votes on all judicial nominees would{{spaces}}... strengthen the Senate."<ref>{{cite news |last=Sessions |first=Jeff |title=Playing by Reid's rules on filibusters |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/25/AR2009112503535_pf.html |access-date=September 16, 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 27, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113085357/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/25/AR2009112503535_pf.html |archive-date=November 13, 2012}}</ref>

While serving as the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee in the 110th Congress, Sessions was the senior Republican who questioned Judge [[Sonia Sotomayor]], President [[Barack Obama]]'s nominee to succeed retiring Justice [[David Souter]]. Sessions focused on Sotomayor's views on empathy as a quality for a judge, arguing that "empathy for one party is always prejudice against another."<ref>Robert Barnes, Amy Goldstein, Paul Kane, [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/14/MND318NTQ3.DTL "Nominee Sotomayor at center stage in Senate"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918112320/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2009%2F07%2F14%2FMND318NTQ3.DTL |date=September 18, 2009 }}, ''San Francisco Chronicle'', July 14, 2009</ref> Sessions also questioned the nominee about her views on the use of foreign law in deciding cases,<ref>Steve Padilla, [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/07/sotomayor-hearings-judge-is-adamant-sessions-is-unconvinced.html "Sotomayor hearings: Judge is adamant, Sessions is unconvinced"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019194022/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/07/sotomayor-hearings-judge-is-adamant-sessions-is-unconvinced.html |date=October 19, 2012 }}, ''Los Angeles Times'', July 15, 2009.</ref> as well as her role in the [[Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund]] (PRLDEF). On July 28, 2009, Sessions joined five Republican colleagues in voting against Sotomayor's nomination in the Judiciary Committee. The committee approved Sotomayor by a vote of 13–6.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5huyApqmCqq9U5Hw9jP5IYR1gSQEwD99NI0NG4 |title=Judiciary Committee OKs Sotomayor for high court |agency=[[Associated Press]] |first=Julie |last=Hirschfeld Davis |date=July 28, 2009 |access-date=August 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814002213/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5huyApqmCqq9U5Hw9jP5IYR1gSQEwD99NI0NG4 |archive-date=August 14, 2009}}</ref> Sessions also voted against Sotomayor when her nomination came before the full Senate. He was one of 31 senators (all Republicans) to do so, while 68 voted to confirm the nominee.<ref>[https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00262 Roll Call Vote on the Nomination of Sonia Sotomayor] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140919095819/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00262 |date=September 19, 2014 }}, ''U.S. Senate'', August 6, 2009.</ref>

Sessions also served as the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee during the nomination process for [[Elena Kagan]], President Obama's nominee to succeed retired Justice [[John Paul Stevens]]. Sessions based his opposition on the nominee's lack of experience, her background as a political operative (Kagan had said that she worked in the Clinton White House not as a lawyer but as a policy adviser<ref>{{cite web |first=Elena |last=Kagan |url=http://www.scotusblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Kagan-speech_WestPoint.pdf |title=Speech to West Point Cadets |date=October 17, 2007 |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620170447/http://www.scotusblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Kagan-speech_WestPoint.pdf |archive-date=June 20, 2010}}</ref>), and her record on guns, abortion, and gay rights. Sessions pointed out that Kagan "has a very thin record legally, never tried a case, never argued before a jury, only had her first appearance in the appellate courts a year ago".<ref>{{cite news |first=Bruce |last=Drake |title=Republicans to Focus on Whether Elena Kagan Would be a Judicial Activist |url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/06/27/republicans-to-focus-on-whether-elena-kagan-would-be-a-judicial/ |work=Politics Daily |date=June 27, 2010 |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630075325/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/06/27/republicans-to-focus-on-whether-elena-kagan-would-be-a-judicial/ |archive-date=June 30, 2010}}</ref>

Sessions focused the majority of his criticism on Kagan's treatment of the military while she was dean of Harvard Law School. During her tenure, Kagan reinstated the practice of requiring [[military recruiter]]s to coordinate their activities through a campus veterans organization, rather than the school's Office of Career Services. Kagan argued that she was trying to comply with a law known as the [[Solomon Amendment]], which barred federal funds from any college or university that did not grant military recruiters equal access to campus facilities. Sessions asserted that Kagan's action was a violation of the Solomon Amendment and that it amounted to "demeaning and punishing the military".<ref name="USAToday2010">{{cite news |author=Sessions, Jeff |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2010-07-21-sessions21_ST_N.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516092107/http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2010-07-21-sessions21_ST_N.htm|archive-date=May 16, 2011 |title=Opposing view on the Supreme Court: A big-government vision |work=USA Today |date=July 20, 2010 |access-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref> He also argued that her action showed a willingness to place her politics above the law, and questioned "whether she had the intellectual honesty, the clarity of mind, that you would expect on the Supreme Court".<ref name="USAToday2010" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cheney |first1=Catherine |last2=Gerstein |first2=Josh |title=Sessions questions Kagan's 'honesty' |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/06/sessions-questions-kagans-honesty-039157 |date=June 29, 2010 |access-date=November 20, 2016 |work=[[Politico]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121103426/http://www.politico.com/story/2010/06/sessions-questions-kagans-honesty-039157 |archive-date=November 21, 2016}}</ref>

On July 20, 2010, Sessions and five Republican colleagues voted against Kagan's nomination. Despite this, the Judiciary Committee approved the nomination by a 13–6 vote. Sessions also voted against Kagan in the full Senate vote, joining 36 other senators (including one Democrat) in opposition. 63 senators voted to confirm Kagan. Following the vote, Sessions remarked on future nominations and elections, saying that Americans would "not forgive the Senate if we further expose our Constitution to revision and rewrite by judicial fiat to advance what President Obama says is a broader vision of what America should be".<ref>{{cite news |author=Hulse, Carl |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/06/us/politics/06kagan.html |title=Senate Confirms Kagan in Partisan Vote |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 5, 2010 |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101020643/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/06/us/politics/06kagan.html |archive-date=November 1, 2011}}</ref>

In March 2016, following the death of Justice [[Antonin Scalia]] and President Obama's nomination of [[Merrick Garland]] to the U.S. Supreme Court, Sessions said the Senate "should not confirm a new Supreme Court justice until a new president is elected".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Koplowitz |first1=Howard |title=Merrick Garland Alabama reaction: Shelby, Sessions opposed to hearings for Obama's SCOTUS pick |url=http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/03/merrick_garland_alabama_reacti.html |work=AL.com |date=March 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106231353/http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/03/merrick_garland_alabama_reacti.html |archive-date=November 6, 2016}}</ref>

=== Legislation ===

In 1999, Sessions cosponsored the bill to award [[Rosa Parks]] the [[Congressional Gold Medal]].<ref name="abc-jeff-sessions-civil-rights">{{Cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/jeff-sessions-race-civil-rights/story?id=43633501 |title=What Jeff Sessions Has Said About Race and Civil Rights |last=Levine |first=Mike |date=November 18, 2016 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|access-date=November 19, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119030803/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/jeff-sessions-race-civil-rights/story?id=43633501 |archive-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref>

On December 11, 2013, Sessions cosponsored the [[Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2013]], a bill that would reauthorize the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 and would authorize funding through 2018 to help [[child abuse]] victims.<ref name="CoxSenatePass">{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Ramsey |title=Senate passes bill to protect children from abuse |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/210945-senate-passes-bill-to-protect-children-from-abuse/ |access-date=July 28, 2014 |work=The Hill |date=June 30, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630163732/http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/210945-senate-passes-bill-to-protect-children-from-abuse |archive-date=June 30, 2014}}</ref> Sessions argued that "there is no higher duty than protecting our nation's children, and this bill is an important step to ensure the most vulnerable children receive the care and support they deserve."<ref name="CoxSenatePass" />

== Personal life ==
Sessions and his wife Mary have three children and as of March 30, 2020, ten grandchildren.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://heavy.com/news/2017/01/jeff-sessions-children-mary-ruth-sam-alabama-senator-family-photos-grandkids/|title=Jeff Sessions' Children: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|last=Orfanides|first=Effie|date=January 10, 2017|website=Heavy.com|access-date=March 12, 2020}}</ref> The family attends a [[United Methodist Church|United Methodist]] church. Specifically, Jeff and Mary Sessions are members of the Ashland Place United Methodist Church in [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]];<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions to Deliver Faulkner Law's 2015 Commencement Address |date=March 2015 |publisher=[[Faulkner University]] |access-date=November 24, 2016 |url=https://www.faulkner.edu/2015/03/u-s-senator-jeff-sessions-to-deliver-faulkner-laws-2015-commencement-address/ |quote=Senator Sessions and his wife Mary Blackshear Sessions (also a native of Alabama) are members of the Ashland Place [[United Methodist Church]] in Mobile. He serves as a lay leader and Sunday school teacher there. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124163315/https://www.faulkner.edu/2015/03/u-s-senator-jeff-sessions-to-deliver-faulkner-laws-2015-commencement-address/ |archive-date=November 24, 2016}}</ref> Jeff Sessions has taught [[Sunday school]] there.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Lucas |first=Fred |title=Who Is the New Attorney General Pick, Jeff Sessions? |date=November 21, 2016 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/who-new-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-523460 |journal=[[Newsweek]] |access-date=November 24, 2016 |quote=Sessions is a Sunday school teacher at the Ashland Place United Methodist Church in Mobile and has been a delegate to the annual Alabama Methodist Conference. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124053238/http://www.newsweek.com/who-new-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-523460 |archive-date=November 24, 2016}}</ref>

== Electoral history ==
=== 2020 ===
{{Election box begin no change|title=2020 Alabama U.S. Senate Republican primary runoff election<ref name=NYT2020>[https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/14/us/elections/results-sessions-tuberville.html Live Alabama Senate Runoff Results: Sessions vs. Tuberville], ''[[New York Times]]'', July 15, 2020, Retrieved July 15, 2020.</ref>}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = [[Tommy Tuberville]]
|votes = 333,890
|percentage = 60.7
}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jeff Sessions
|votes = 215,831
|percentage = 39.3
}}

{{Election box end}}

=== 2014 ===
{{Election box begin no change|title=[[2014 United States Senate election in Alabama]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://alabamavotes.gov/downloads/election/2014/general/2014GeneralResults-WithWriteIn.pdf |title=Certified General Election Results |publisher=Alabama Secretary of State |access-date=January 7, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128155614/http://www.alabamavotes.gov/downloads/election/2014/general/2014GeneralResults-WithWriteIn.pdf |archive-date=January 28, 2015}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Sessions (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 795,606
| percentage = 97.25%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
| candidate = Other
| party = Write-ins
| votes = 22,484
| percentage = 2.75%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 818,090
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

=== 2008 ===
{{Election box begin no change|title=2008 Alabama U.S. Senate Republican primary election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jeff Sessions (incumbent)
|votes = 199,690
|percentage = 92.27
}}

{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Zach McCann
|votes = 16,718
|percentage = 7.73
}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[2008 United States Senate election in Alabama]]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|Social issues
  |party = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate = Jeff Sessions (incumbent)
  |votes = 1,305,383
  |percentage = 63.36%
  |change = +4.78%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate = [[Vivian Davis Figures]]
  |votes = 752,391
  |percentage = 36.52%
  |change = -3.31%
}}
{{Election box candidate|
  |party = Write-ins
  |candidate =
  |votes = 2,417
  |percentage = 0.12%
  |change = +0.02%
}}
{{Election box end}}

=== 2002 ===
{{Election box begin | title=[[2002 United States Senate election in Alabama]]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate = Jeff Sessions (incumbent)
  |votes = 792,561
  |percentage = 58.58%
  |change = +6.13%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate = Susan Parker
  |votes = 538,878
  |percentage = 39.83%
  |change = -5.63%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate = Jeff Allen
  |votes = 20,234
  |percentage = 1.5%
  |change = +0.06%
}}
{{Election box candidate|
  |party = Write-ins
  |candidate =
  |votes = 1,350
  |percentage = 0.10%
  |change = +0.06%
}}
{{Election box end}}

=== 1996 ===

{{Election box begin no change|title=1996 Alabama U.S. Senate Republican primary election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jeff Sessions
|votes = 82,373
|percentage = 37.81
}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Sid McDonald
|votes = 47,320
|percentage = 21.72
}}

{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Charles Woods
|votes = 24,409
|percentage = 11.20
}}

{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Frank McRight
|votes = 21,964
|percentage = 10.08
}}

{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Walter D. Clark
|votes = 18,745
|percentage = 8.60
}}

{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jimmy Blake
|votes = 15,385
|percentage = 7.06
}}

{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Albert Lipscomb
|votes = 7,672
|percentage = 3.52
}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=1996 Alabama U.S. Senate Republican primary runoff election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jeff Sessions
|votes = 81,681
|percentage = 59.26
}}

{{Election box candidate no party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Sid McDonald
|votes = 56,156
|percentage = 40.74
}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=[[1996 United States Senate election in Alabama]]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
  |party = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate = Jeff Sessions
  |votes = 786,436
  |percentage = 52.45
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate = Roger Bedford
  |votes = 681,651
  |percentage = 45.46
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate = Mark Thornton
  |votes = 21,550
  |percentage = 1.44
}}
{{Election box candidate no change|
  |party = [[Natural Law Party (United States)|Natural Law]]
  |candidate = Charles R. Hebner
  |votes = 9,123
  |percentage = 0.61
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change|
  |votes = 633
  |percentage = 0.04
}}
{{Election box end}}

=== 1994 ===
{{Election box begin no change|title=1994 Alabama Attorney General election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jeff Sessions
|votes = 667,010
|percentage = 56.87
}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Jimmy Evans (incumbent)
|votes = 505,137
|percentage = 43.07
}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|votes = 660
|percentage = 0.00
}}

{{Election box end}}

== See also ==
*[[2017 dismissal of U.S. attorneys]]
*[[Mueller report]]
*[[Nobody Is Above the Law]]
*[[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|25em}}

== Sources ==
{{Bioguide}}

== External links ==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Wikisource author-inline|Jefferson Beauregard Sessions}}
*{{Wikiquote-inline}}
*[https://www.justice.gov/ag/bio/attorney-general-jeff-sessions Attorney General bio]
*{{C-SPAN|44441}}
{{CongLinks |congbio=s001141 |congress=jeff-sessions/1548}}
*[https://www.politico.com/news/jeff-sessions Collected news and commentary] from ''[[Politico]]''

{{s-start}}
{{s-legal}}
{{s-bef|before=William Kimbrough}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States Attorney]] for the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama|Southern District of Alabama]]|years=1981–1993}}
{{s-aft|after=Don Foster}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Jimmy Evans}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Attorney General of Alabama]]|years=1995–1997}}
{{s-aft|after=[[William H. Pryor Jr.|Bill Pryor]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Loretta Lynch]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States Attorney General]]|years=2017–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=[[William Barr]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Spencer Bachus]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[Attorney General of Alabama]]|years=1994}}
{{s-aft|after=[[William H. Pryor Jr.]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[William J. Cabaniss]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of United States senators from Alabama|U.S. Senator]] from [[Alabama]]<br>([[Classes of United States senators|Class 2]])|years=[[1996 United States Senate election in Alabama|1996]], [[2002 United States Senate election in Alabama|2002]], [[2008 United States Senate election in Alabama|2008]], [[2014 United States Senate election in Alabama|2014]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Roy Moore]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Jon Kyl]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Senate Republican Steering Committee|years=2003–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jim DeMint]]}}
|-
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Howell Heflin]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United States senators from Alabama|U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Alabama]]|years=1997–2017|alongside=[[Richard Shelby]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Luther Strange]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Arlen Specter]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Senate Judiciary Committee]]|years=2009–2011}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Chuck Grassley]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Judd Gregg]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on the Budget|Senate Budget Committee]]|years=2011–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bernie Sanders]]}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Betsy DeVos]]|as=Former U.S. Cabinet Member}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Former U.S. Cabinet Member}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Tom Price (American politician)|Tom Price]]|as=Former U.S. Cabinet Member}}
{{s-end}}

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{{USCongRep-start |congresses=105th–115th [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[United States congressional delegations from Alabama|Alabama]]}}
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}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sessions, Jeff}}
[[Category:Jeff Sessions|*]]
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