Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Thursday morning that he will be opposing Sen. Jeff Sessions as U.S. attorney general because he does not believe the Alabama senator will defend the “rights of all Americans” or “serve as an independent check on the incoming administration.”
“The attorney general of the United States has a sacred obligation to enforce our laws and uphold the constitution,” he said in the statement. “The law gives a voice to the voiceless, it protects the oppressed from the powerful, and it defends the rights of all people, regardless of gender, sexuality, or religion. The attorney general must wake up every single day ensuring the rights of all Americans: immigrants, minorities, young and old, gay and straight, disabled and not are protected. Every right — freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the freedom to vote, or any other enshrined in our Constitution or the law — must be protected for every American.”
He continued: “After reviewing his record and giving careful consideration to his answer during the hearing, I am not confident in Senator Sessions’ ability to be a defender of the rights of all Americans, or to serve as an independent check on the incoming administration.”
There it is. Schumer now officially opposing Jeff Sessions as AG pic.twitter.com/nUl2lPl4SQ
— Joe Perticone (@JoePerticone) January 12, 2017
Schumer’s decision to come out against Sessions does not leave his confirmation in doubt, as no Republicans have said they would oppose him. The vote will likely split along party lines, however.