Donald Trump made the announcement Friday morning that he is tapping Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions to be the next Attorney General of the United States. Within just a few hours, Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren was already calling for Trump to rescind the nomination.
“Instead of embracing the bigotry that fueled his campaign rallies, I urge President-elect Trump to reverse his apparent decision to nominate Senator Sessions to be Attorney General of the United States… If he refuses, then it will fall to the Senate to exercise fundamental moral leadership for our nation and all of its people…
“Thirty years ago, a different Republican Senate rejected Senator Sessions’ nomination to a federal judgeship. In doing so, that Senate affirmed that there can be no compromise with racism; no negotiation with hate… Today, a new Republican Senate must decide whether self-interest and political cowardice will prevent them from once again doing what is right.”
Warren was referencing to a 1986 appointment that went downhill for Sessions. He was a U.S. attorney at the time and President Reagan appointed him to a federal judgeship. Numerous allegations of racism came up during senate confirmation hearings. The allegations ruined Sessions' chances and he was voted down by the committee.
The Alabama senator has always maintained the accusations to be untrue.
This isn’t the first appointment of Trump’s that Warren has criticized. After Steve Bannon’s appointment as Chief Strategist, Warren claimed he is a man with “white supremacist” ties and should not be qualified to hold his position.
She will undoubtedly protest many more Trump nominations as they come and execute a social justice warrior crusade during hearing confirmations.
It may not matter what she has to say. Republicans will have 52 votes in the Senate and (thanks to Democrats changing Senate rules three years ago to discontinue the 60-vote confirmation threshold) Sessions will only need a simple majority to win his appointment.