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66-579: The Cole Memorandum was rescinded by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in January 2018, during the presidency of Donald Trump . On August 29, 2013, the Department of Justice published a memorandum authored by Cole which described a new set of priorities for federal prosecutors operating in states which had legalized the medical or other use of marijuana. The "Cole memo" followed a 2009 memorandum from Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden directing U.S. Attorneys in

132-678: A Juris Doctor in 1973. Sessions entered the private practice of law in Russellville and later in Mobile . He also served in the Army Reserve in the 1970s with the rank of captain. Sessions served as an assistant United States attorney in the 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

198-584: A key role in the implementation of the Trump administration family separation policy. Trump issued an executive order revoking the cities' funding , but that order was overturned by a federal court. Sessions also supported 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

264-507: A large role in appointments and policy preparation relative to space, NASA and related facilities in Alabama, while Peter Thiel advocated for private spaceflight . President-elect Trump announced on November 18, 2016, that he would nominate Sessions to be Attorney General of the United States. Trump would later state in an August 22, 2018, interview with Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt that

330-535: A letter urging the Senate to reject the nomination. A group of black pastors rallied in support of Sessions in advance of his confirmation hearing; his nomination was supported by Gerald A. Reynolds , an African American former chairman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights . Six NAACP activists, including NAACP President Cornell William Brooks , were arrested at a January 2017 sit-in protesting

396-460: 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 cities and told reporters that cities failing to comply with federal immigration policy would lose federal funding. He also played

462-477: A party-line vote for "impugning a fellow senator's character". 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. A few hours later Senator Jeff Merkley read without interruption the same letter by King that Warren had attempted to read. United States attorney general The United States attorney general ( AG )

528-407: A racist, and that Sessions "has a tendency sometimes to just say something, and I believe these comments were along that vein." 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. Thomas Figures , a black assistant U.S. attorney, testified that Sessions said he thought

594-605: A review or revocation of the memorandum. The federal government's position was vague, with Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein saying in mid-June "maybe there will be changes to it [the Cole Memorandum] in the future, but we're still operating under that policy". Around June 2017, a Justice Department task force was convened to review the Cole Memo and other Obama-era decisions; it was headed by Michael Murray, Counsel to Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein. The committee's report

660-669: A tightly regulated market in which revenues are tracked and accounted for." Since that date, although federal prosecutions have continued in some legalizing states (notably in the Kettle Falls Five case), the overall number of federal marijuana prosecutions in such states has declined. States with legalized cannabis were concerned about the incoming Trump administration 's handling of the Cole Memo and their congressional representatives and governors saw Attorney General Jeff Sessions as adamantly opposed to its continuation. Anti-legalization groups like Smart Approaches to Marijuana requested

726-468: 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 as attorney general in the administration of President Donald Trump . Trump fired Sessions in 2018 due to his inaction and recusal from

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792-632: Is considered incorrect in standard American English usage. For the same reason, the correct American English plural form is "attorneys general" rather than "attorney generals". Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1789 which, among other things, established the Office of the Attorney General. The original duties of this officer were "to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which

858-569: 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   ... These four cases are awfully weak evidence of Sessions's supposed commitment to civil rights." 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

924-665: Is the head of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and is the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government of the United States . The attorney general serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all legal matters. The attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States . Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution ,

990-461: Is the practice for the attorney general, along with the other Cabinet secretaries and high-level political appointees of the president , to tender a resignation with effect on the Inauguration Day (January 20) of a new president. The deputy attorney general is also expected to tender a resignation, but is commonly requested to stay on and act as the attorney general pending the confirmation by

1056-481: 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." Figures testified that on one occasion, when the 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

1122-457: The 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

1188-505: The 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. Sessions was born in Selma, Alabama , on December 24, 1946, the son of Jefferson Beauregard Sessions Jr. and the former Abbie Powe. Sessions, his father, and his grandfather were named after Jefferson Davis , a U.S. senator and president of

1254-617: 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 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

1320-753: The Confederate States of America , 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 . His father owned a general store in Hybart, Alabama , and later owned a farm equipment dealership. Both Sessions's parents were primarily of English descent, with some Scots-Irish ancestry. In 1964, Sessions became an Eagle Scout , and later, he earned

1386-647: The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award for his many years of service. After attending Wilcox County High School in nearby Camden , 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. Sessions attended the University of Alabama School of Law and graduated with

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1452-513: The Ku Klux Klan was "OK until I found out they smoked 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". 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

1518-649: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as "un-American" and " Communist -inspired" (Sessions said he was referring to their support of the Sandinistas ) and that they did more harm than good by trying to force civil rights "down the throats of people". Hebert, a civil rights lawyer, said that he did not consider Sessions

1584-731: The New York State Assembly from Albany County , District Attorney of Albany County United States Senator from Tennessee , Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee 's 3rd district and 5th district, Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals Solicitor of the United States Treasury , U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania 22nd Secretary of State of Kentucky , United States Senator from Kentucky Member of

1650-609: The Obama Administration's use of executive actions . In response to questions posed by Senator Cory Booker , President Biden's United States Attorney General, Merrick Garland , stated during February 2021 congressional testimony that he would reinstitute a version of the Cole Memorandum. He reiterated the statement that the Justice Department under his leadership would not pursue cases against Americans "complying with

1716-617: The U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland 's 3rd district Attorney General of Pennsylvania United States Attorney for the District of Virginia , Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Richmond City 6th Clerk of the Virginia House of Delegates Judge of the Eastern judicial circuit of Georgia, United States Senator from Georgia Acting United States Secretary of War , Attorney General of Maryland Member of

1782-567: The U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts 's 4th district United States Senator from Kentucky , Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives , Attorney General of Kentucky Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware 's at-large district, Member of Delaware General Assembly United States Minister to the United Kingdom , 3rd Attorney General of Maryland , Mayor of Annapolis , Member of

1848-710: 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 U.S. attorneys at the time. Sessions has always defended his civil rights record, saying that "when I was [a U.S. attorney], I signed 10 pleadings attacking segregation or the remnants of segregation, where we as part of the Department of Justice, we sought desegregation remedies." 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

1914-772: The Federal Judiciary, which rates nominees to the federal bench, rated Sessions "qualified", with a minority voting that Sessions was "not qualified". His nomination was opposed by the NAACP, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights , and People for the American Way . At Sessions's confirmation hearings before the 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

1980-448: The Justice Department. The title, "attorney general" is an example of a noun ( attorney ) followed by a postpositive adjective ( general ). "General" is a description of the type of attorney, not a title or rank in itself ( as it would be in the military ). Even though the attorney general (and the similarly titled solicitor general ) is occasionally referred to as "General" or "General [last name]" by senior government officials, this

2046-468: 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. Interviewed in 2009, Sessions said he remained convinced that he did

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2112-528: The Republican primary for U.S. Senate, after a runoff, and then defeated Democrat Roger Bedford 53%–46% in the November general election . He succeeded Howell Heflin (a Democrat), who had retired after 18 years in the Senate, making his victory a Republican pickup in the Senate. In the February 1999 impeachment trial , Sessions voted to convict President Bill Clinton on both articles of impeachment , for perjury and obstruction of justice . However Clinton

2178-558: The Russian collusion probes. From 1981 to 1993, Sessions served as the U.S. attorney for the 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

2244-425: The Senate of the new attorney general. For example, upon the inauguration of President Donald Trump on January 20, 2017, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch left her position, so then-Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates , who had also tendered her resignation, was asked to stay on to serve as the acting attorney general until the confirmation of the new attorney general Jeff Sessions , who had been nominated for

2310-415: The Senate floor; the nomination was later withdrawn. Sessions was elected attorney general of Alabama in 1994. In 1996 , he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and was re-elected in 2002 , 2008 and 2014 . During his Senate tenure, Sessions was considered one of the most conservative senators. His Senate voting record includes votes against comprehensive immigration reform (2006), the 2008 bank bailout ,

2376-475: The Senate ;– would create a temporary vacancy, which otherwise would have jeopardized DeVos's narrow confirmation. 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 Senate Rule XIX on

2442-448: The Southern District of Alabama. The Senate 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. Sessions's office filed civil rights charges in the 1981 killing of Michael Donald , a young African American man who was murdered in Mobile, Alabama , by a pair of Ku Klux Klan members. Sessions's office did not prosecute

2508-528: The United States shall be concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the president of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments". Some of these duties have since been transferred to the United States solicitor general and the White House counsel . The Department of Justice was established in 1870 to support the attorneys general in

2574-635: The Western United States to "not focus federal resources in your States on individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana". The 2013 memorandum represented a significant shift of government priorities away from strict enforcement of federal cannabis prohibition and toward a more hands-off approach in the case of "jurisdictions that have enacted laws legalizing marijuana in some form and that have also implemented strong and effective regulatory and enforcement systems to control

2640-459: The assistant U.S. attorney who testified at Sessions's judicial confirmation hearing) to win a third term . Sessions received 63 percent of the vote to Figures's 37 percent. Sessions successfully sought a fourth term in 2014. 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. Sessions

2706-526: The awesome powers of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters." 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

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2772-503: The case, as homicide is prosecuted by the state government, but both men were arrested and convicted. In 1985, Sessions prosecuted three African American community organizers in the Black Belt of Alabama , including Martin Luther King Jr. 's former aide Albert Turner , for voter fraud , alleging tampering with 14 absentee ballots. The prosecution stirred charges of selective prosecution of black voter registration. The defendants, known as

2838-594: 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 . 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. He

2904-705: 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." 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 Ginny Granade . Granade denied this. He also testified that "Mr. Sessions admonished me to 'be careful what you say to white folks.'" Sessions denied this. In 1992, Figures

2970-432: The cultivation, distribution, sale and possession of marijuana." Indeed, Cole's memo went so far as to state that "a robust system may affirmatively address [federal] priorities by, for example, implementing effective measures to prevent diversion of marijuana outside the regulated system and to other states, prohibiting access to marijuana by minors, and replacing an illicit marijuana trade that funds criminal enterprises with

3036-406: The decision. Legal and political experts expressed varied reactions to Sessions' 2018 memo. Some said that it would not fundamentally change the existing system, with power to prosecute remaining in the hands of various U.S. Attorneys. Law professor and author Ilya Somin called the decision an "assault on federalism ". Political columnist Jacob Sullum said it could be seen as justified reaction to

3102-508: The discharge of their responsibilities. The secretary of state , the secretary of the treasury , the secretary of defense , and the attorney general are regarded as the four most important Cabinet officials in the United States because of the size and importance of their respective departments. Attorney General is a Level   I position in the Executive Schedule , thus earning a salary of US$ 221,400, as of January 2021. It

3168-459: 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." As attorney general in 1995, Sessions defended a newly passed state law denying access to meeting space and student group funding for Gay-Straight Alliances at

3234-536: The highest ethical and intellectual standards". 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". Sessions

3300-480: The laws in states that have legalized and are effectively regulating marijuana", in written responses to the Senate Judiciary Committee provided around March 1. Jeff Sessions Defunct Newspapers Journals TV channels Websites Other Economics Gun rights Identity politics Nativist Religion Watchdog groups Youth/student groups Miscellaneous Other Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III (born December 24, 1946)

3366-545: The nomination. On January 10, 2017, the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on his nomination began and were interrupted by protesters. The committee approved his nomination February   1 on an 11–9 party-line vote. The nomination then went to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. The vote on Sessions was delayed until after the vote on Secretary of Education nominee Betsy DeVos , because his confirmation – and subsequent resignation from

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3432-507: The office in November 2016 by then- President-elect Donald Trump.     Federalist (4)     Democratic-Republican (5)     Democratic (34)     Whig (4)     Republican (40) 7th Governor of Virginia Attorney General of Pennsylvania Acting United States Secretary of State Acting United States Secretary of State , 7th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts , Member of

3498-550: The officeholder is nominated by the president of the United States, then appointed with the advice and consent of the United States Senate . The attorney general is supported by the Office of the Attorney General, which includes executive staff and several deputies. Merrick Garland has been the United States attorney general since March 11, 2021. On November 21, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump named former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his nominee to run

3564-487: The only reason he nominated Sessions was because Sessions was an original supporter during his presidential campaign. The nomination engendered support and opposition from various groups and individuals. He was introduced by Senator 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." More than 1,400 law school professors wrote

3630-564: The right thing, but admitted he "failed to make the case". In 1986, Reagan nominated Sessions to be a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama . Sessions's judicial nomination was recommended and actively backed by Republican Alabama senator Jeremiah Denton . A substantial majority of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on

3696-473: The second nominee to the federal judiciary in 48 years whose nomination was killed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. He was quoted then as saying that the Senate on occasion had been insensitive to the rights and reputation of nominees. 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

3762-647: The state's public universities, stating that "an organization that professes to be comprised of homosexuals and/or lesbians may not receive state funding or use state-supported facilities to foster or promote those illegal, sexually deviate activities defined in the sodomy and sexual misconduct laws." 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). In 1996, Sessions won

3828-654: 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 games , movies and music, especially that of Marilyn Manson , and parts of culture for the actions of the two shooters . In 2002, Sessions won reelection by defeating Democratic state auditor Susan Parker . In 2008, Sessions defeated Democratic state senator Vivian Davis Figures (sister-in-law of Thomas Figures,

3894-457: 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. Hebert, Kowalski and Daniel Bell, deputy chief of the criminal section in

3960-406: Was elected attorney general of Alabama in November 1994, unseating incumbent Democrat 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

4026-678: Was finalized June 27, 2017 and released to the public in August when it was found to have "no new policy recommendations", and recommended that the Trump Administration Attorney General "should evaluate whether to maintain, revise or rescind" the memo. The memorandum was rescinded by a one-page memo signed by Attorney General Jeff Sessions on January 4, 2018. Governors and United States senators from several states including Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont and Washington immediately expressed displeasure at

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4092-455: Was on the short list to become Trump's running mate and was widely seen as a potential Cabinet secretary in a Trump administration. Sessions donned a " Make America Great Again " cap at a Trump rally in August 2015, and Stephen Miller , Sessions's long-time communications director, joined the Trump campaign. On February 28, 2016, Sessions officially endorsed Trump for president. Session's endorsement further legitimized Trump's campaign, as he

4158-415: Was only the second freshman Republican senator from Alabama since 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, had previously run as a Democrat, switching parties in 1994). Sessions

4224-424: Was required for the nomination to proceed. 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. Sessions became only

4290-482: 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. 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. During the transition , Sessions played

4356-596: Was the ranking Republican member on the Senate Budget Committee, a former ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and a senior member of the Armed Services Committee . He also served on the Environment and Public Works Committee . According to OpenSecrets , between 1995 and 2016, Sessions's largest donors came from the legal, health, real estate, and insurance industries. From 1995 to 2016,

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