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Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is up for re-election in 2018. (Photo: Third Way Think Tank/flickr/cc)

'Traitor': West Virginia Democrat Manchin Under Fire for Pro-Sessions Vote

"Manchin, by voting Sessions, voted for race-based voter suppression. He's a traitor to his voters and the party."

Deirdre Fulton

Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia is under fire Thursday for his Wednesday evening vote to confirm Jeff Sessions as U.S. attorney general. 

According to Guardian political reporter Ben Jacobs, Manchin "flash[ed Sessions] a thumbs up on his way in the chamber," before breaking with his party to cast the only Democratic vote in favor of Sessions' confirmation. 

The social media outcry against the conservative Democrat, who is up for re-election in 2018, was swift:

A number of observers noted that Manchin's daughter, Heather Bresch, was chief executive of the pharmaceutical company Mylan when it dramatically hiked the price of EpiPens. The matter is currently being investigated by the Department of Justice, which Sessions will now helm. 

Manchin was also among a handful of Democrats to vote "yes" on the confirmation of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. 

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