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Nine Unanimous 'Nays' from Democrats as GOP-Run Committee Approves Jeff Sessions
Senate Judiciary Democrats show backbone on controversial nominee for Attorney General: 'Nay' 'Nay' 'Nay' 'Nay' 'Nay' 'Nay' 'Nay' 'Nay' 'Nay'
Feb 01, 2017
Followed by shouts of "Shame! Shame!" in the gallery, and with no Democratic members voting in favor, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday voted to recommend confirmation for Jeff Sessions to become the next U.S. Attorney General.
After stalling tactics and vociferous objections from Democratic members (some of which prompted contentious exchanges among lawmakers), the final vote was 11-9 along strict party lines.
Sessions' nomination--which was strongly opposed by women's rights groups, civil liberties advocates, public interest organizations, and legal experts from across the progressive community--will now be referred to the full Senate where a final vote will be scheduled.
Vicki Saporta, president and CEO of the National Abortion Federation (NAF), was quick to condemn the committee's vote.
"As the nomination of Jeff Sessions advances to the full Senate, NAF continues to strongly oppose his confirmation," Saporta said in a statement. "Sessions has a long record of opposing protections for abortion providers and we remain unconvinced that he will adequately enforce the laws that protect abortion providers and their patients from threats and violence. Sessions' nomination has broad-based opposition from a wide range of groups that work to advance civil rights and women's rights, including legal scholars. NAF urges Senators to fully consider the record of Jeff Sessions and reject his nomination as Attorney General."
Outrage was also immediate on social media:
You can't celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth and appoint an attorney general who won't support the Voting Rights Act. https://t.co/ckbi6VWM5E
-- Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) February 1, 2017
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Followed by shouts of "Shame! Shame!" in the gallery, and with no Democratic members voting in favor, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday voted to recommend confirmation for Jeff Sessions to become the next U.S. Attorney General.
After stalling tactics and vociferous objections from Democratic members (some of which prompted contentious exchanges among lawmakers), the final vote was 11-9 along strict party lines.
Sessions' nomination--which was strongly opposed by women's rights groups, civil liberties advocates, public interest organizations, and legal experts from across the progressive community--will now be referred to the full Senate where a final vote will be scheduled.
Vicki Saporta, president and CEO of the National Abortion Federation (NAF), was quick to condemn the committee's vote.
"As the nomination of Jeff Sessions advances to the full Senate, NAF continues to strongly oppose his confirmation," Saporta said in a statement. "Sessions has a long record of opposing protections for abortion providers and we remain unconvinced that he will adequately enforce the laws that protect abortion providers and their patients from threats and violence. Sessions' nomination has broad-based opposition from a wide range of groups that work to advance civil rights and women's rights, including legal scholars. NAF urges Senators to fully consider the record of Jeff Sessions and reject his nomination as Attorney General."
Outrage was also immediate on social media:
You can't celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth and appoint an attorney general who won't support the Voting Rights Act. https://t.co/ckbi6VWM5E
-- Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) February 1, 2017
Followed by shouts of "Shame! Shame!" in the gallery, and with no Democratic members voting in favor, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday voted to recommend confirmation for Jeff Sessions to become the next U.S. Attorney General.
After stalling tactics and vociferous objections from Democratic members (some of which prompted contentious exchanges among lawmakers), the final vote was 11-9 along strict party lines.
Sessions' nomination--which was strongly opposed by women's rights groups, civil liberties advocates, public interest organizations, and legal experts from across the progressive community--will now be referred to the full Senate where a final vote will be scheduled.
Vicki Saporta, president and CEO of the National Abortion Federation (NAF), was quick to condemn the committee's vote.
"As the nomination of Jeff Sessions advances to the full Senate, NAF continues to strongly oppose his confirmation," Saporta said in a statement. "Sessions has a long record of opposing protections for abortion providers and we remain unconvinced that he will adequately enforce the laws that protect abortion providers and their patients from threats and violence. Sessions' nomination has broad-based opposition from a wide range of groups that work to advance civil rights and women's rights, including legal scholars. NAF urges Senators to fully consider the record of Jeff Sessions and reject his nomination as Attorney General."
Outrage was also immediate on social media:
You can't celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth and appoint an attorney general who won't support the Voting Rights Act. https://t.co/ckbi6VWM5E
-- Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) February 1, 2017
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