ACLU Urges Senate to Cancel Attorney General Vote, Demands Second Sessions Testimony

WASHINGTON — The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter today urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to cancel the pending vote on the nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions to attorney general and have Sessions re-appear as a witness in a second hearing.

The move is based on Sessions’ reported involvement in the executive orders signed by President Trump earlier today. The ACLU is calling for Sessions to be questioned on the extraordinary claims of executive authority and the violations to civil liberties and civil rights that the executive orders undertake.

“The Senate cannot meaningfully carry out its constitutional obligation without Sen. Sessions testifying to his views on President Trump’s actions that threaten civil rights, civil liberties and executive authority,” said Faiz Shakir, ACLU national political director. “Going forward with a vote on the attorney general nomination without a second hearing would be an abdication of the Senate’s constitutional role.”

The full letter is available here:
https://www.aclu.org/letter/aclu-letter-sjc-second-hearing-jeff-sessions