Jeff Sessions Quotes
I am humbled to have been asked by President-elect Trump to serve as Attorney General of the United States.
Sessions, Jeff. "Statement on Nomination for Attorney General." Presidential Transition Press Release, 18 Nov. 2016.
He was explaining his reasons for resigning in 2005 from the number two position in the Justice Department. The George W. Bush administration had implemented a program of secret wiretapping and surveillance of American citizens in America which required the authorization of the Justice Department which had determined that the program as it was being implemented violated the law. The Attorney General was ill in the hospital but had told Comey that he would not sign the authorization. The White House then pressured Comey to sign and he refused, and in a similar replay of the Watergate “Saturday Night Massacre”, the number three man at Justice would have been ordered to sign. His resignation convinced President Bush to alter the program to take account of the Justice Department objections.
There were rumors that General Flynn, the National Security Advistor, who was one of President Donald Trump's first appointments, had reached out to Russian Officals before Trump had taken office. It was technically illegal for private citizens to conduct foreign policy. Trump was adamant that General Flynn out to have made contact with the Russians. Conway, Trumps Campaign Manager, and Conselor after he assumed office, went on National Television to put to rest any rumors that Flynn would be fired. A few hours after her statement, Trump changed his mind and fired General Flynn. This quotation illustrates the difficulty that spokespersons for high level officials have in maintaining their own credibility. Often, people whe are in positions like that are referred to as "spearcatchers".
Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III 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, he previously served as United States Senator from Alabama from 1997 to 2017 before resigning that position to serve in the administration of President Donald Trump.
