Renewable Revolution

Email from Senator Sanders
February 10, 2017

Dear Mr. Gelbert:

Thank you for contacting me regarding President Donald Trump’s nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions to serve as Attorney General. I voted against his confirmation because I do not believe the American people can trust Sessions to uphold the values of our Constitution as Attorney General.

For years, there have been very worrisome allegations about Session’s views on race.  In fact, in 1986, a Senate committee denied him a federal judgeship precisely because of those concerns.  Given his record, I continue to have deep reservations about his commitment to upholding the civil rights of all Americans.

I also have serious concerns about Sessions’ record on privacy and government surveillance. He has strongly supported the USA PATRIOT Act, which I believe gives the government far too much power to spy on innocent United States citizens, with little to no oversight or disclosure.

Moreover, I do not believe Sessions will provide the leadership we need to reform our broken criminal justice system.  At a time when there are 2.2 million people incarcerated in the U.S., causing an immense burden for taxpayers, we need sentencing reforms to reduce our incarcerated population and drive down recidivism rates. Unfortunately, Sessions has repeatedly opposed efforts to reduce sentences for nonviolent crimes, and opposes reentry programs for offenders.

Lastly, Sessions has opposed nearly every immigration bill that has come before the Senate that has included a path to citizenship for immigrants.  The Attorney General has significant discretion in the application of immigration laws, and I am deeply concerned that he will pursue policies that will tear families and communities apart. 

The Justice Department has the responsibility of enforcing the laws of our nation, including such bedrock principles as protecting the right to vote, shielding citizens from discrimination, and standing up for civil liberties. Sessions’ record does not reassure me that he will strongly enforce those principles. For those reasons and more, I voted no on his nomination to be Attorney General of the United States. 

Thank you again for contacting me, and please feel free to stay in touch about this or any other subject of interest to you.  For up-to-date information on what I am working on, please sign-up for my e-newsletter, the Bernie Buzz, at http://sanders.senate.gov/buzz/.

Sincerely,

BERNARD SANDERS
United States Senator