Senator Scott Supports Sessions for Attorney General

Washington – As the Senate Judiciary Committee prepares to begin the nomination hearings of Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) for United States Attorney General, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) released the following statement:

“The United States Department of Justice is charged with upholding some of the most basic tenets of our Constitution, as well as laws that were forged through the blood, sweat and tears of generations of Americans, including many people of color. As our nation endures racial and societal unrest like we have not seen in a generation, I know that whomever serves as our nation’s Attorney General must be committed to ensuring that those laws and tenets are fully enforced and protected.

It is no secret that in 1986, Senator Sessions was not chosen as a federal judge. That is why even though I do not serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have put a special emphasis on this nomination in terms of doing my own homework and determining the facts from the allegations. I owe it to the people of South Carolina, and the people of the United States, to make the right decision.

After his nomination, I invited Senator Sessions to Charleston, South Carolina in December of 2016 to meet with African-American pastors, law enforcement and leaders of color. We had what both the attendees and I believe to be a very productive conversation, which gave us all a clearer picture of not only Jeff’s policy positions, but what is in his heart. I have also talked on multiple occasions with leaders from Alabama, closely reviewed both the Congressional testimony and news coverage of Senator Sessions’ hearing in 1986, and studied Jeff’s career as a whole.

While many of the allegations brought up 30 years ago were and are disputed, there are many facts that are absolutely clear. Jeff is committed to upholding the Constitution of the United States. He joined multiple desegregation lawsuits while serving as a U.S. Attorney, protecting the civil rights of students seeking equal educational opportunity. He ensured a KKK murderer received the death penalty. He voted for the first black Attorney General of the United States, and championed the effort to award Rosa Parks the Congressional Gold Medal.

We may not agree on everything, but you would be hard pressed to find a nominee for any post that any Senator is in 100 percent agreement with. I have gotten to know Jeff over my four years in the Senate, and have found him to be a consistently fair person. I will continue working for what I believe is in the best interest of my state and my nation, such as criminal justice reform and stopping illegal immigration.

For all of these reasons, today I am announcing my support for Senator Jeff Sessions as Attorney General of the United States.”