Senator Elizabeth Warren blasted President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general Friday, calling on Trump to reverse the nomination, and, barring that, for the Senate to reject the pick.
“Instead of embracing the bigotry that fueled his campaign rallies, I urge President-elect Trump to reverse his apparent decision to nominate Senator Sessions to be Attorney General of the United States. If he refuses, then it will fall to the Senate to exercise fundamental moral leadership for our nation and all of its people,” Warren said in a statement Friday.
Warren cited the Senate’s 1986 rejection of Sessions’ bid for a federal judgeship. His confirmation was blocked by a Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee. Sessions, who was nominated by President Reagan, was accused of making racist remarks during his time as US attorney in Alabama.
“Thirty years ago, a different Republican Senate rejected Senator Sessions’ nomination to a federal judgeship. In doing so, that Senate affirmed that there can be no compromise with racism; no negotiation with hate. Today, a new Republican Senate must decide whether self-interest and political cowardice will prevent them from once again doing what is right.”
Trump announced the nomination of Sessions Friday as he continued to staff his administration. The president-elect also announced his choice of Representative Mike Pompeo to head the CIA Friday as well as retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as national security advisor.
Warren has been sharply critical of Trump as he makes his transition to the White House. She has also called for the removal of “special interest lobbyists, Wall Street bankers, and industry insiders” from his transition team. Trump announced an effort this week to prevent registered lobbyists from serving in his administration.
Warren has also slammed the appointment of former Breitbart News chief Stephen Bannon as White House chief strategist and senior counselor.
Warren and Trump frequently sparred during the course of the presidential campaign as the Massachusetts senator stumped for fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton. Warren called Trump a “thin-skinned racist bully,” among other pejoratives, while Trump often called Warren “Pocahontas,” a reference to the Senator’s unsubstantiated claim to Native American heritage.
Christina Prignano can be reached at christina.prignano@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @cprignano.