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Democrats have fought Sessions' nomination
He is expected to be advanced to the full Senate
(CNN) —
The Senate Judiciary Committee delayed voting Tuesday morning on the nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions as attorney general, a politically charged pick that’s receiving even more scrutiny in the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration.
The panel was expected to approve and advance Sessions for a vote in the full Senate, but Democrats used a procedural move to delay the committee vote until Wednesday, a move to further prevent Trump from getting his full Cabinet in place in a timely manner.
Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley opened the session with a pre-emptive defense of Sessions.
“He knows the department better than any nominee for attorney general, he’s a man of his word, and most importantly he will enforce the law no matter whether he would have supported that law as a member of the Senate,” Grassley, R-Iowa, said.
But the panel’s top Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, lit into Sessions, tying him to the travel ban and other actions from the new Trump administration.
“Not one order idea or pronouncement is meant to bring this country together; they only serve to drive us further apart,” Feinstein said. “It is in this context we are being asked to consider this nomination.”
Feinstein read from a Washington Post article that touted Sessions’ deep influence in Trump’s new administration – including highlights of the Alabama senator’s loyalists working on policy.
“How could we possibly conclude that this nominee is going to be independent?” Feinstein said.
Sessions has denied he was involved in drafting Trump’s travel ban. In written responses to the Judiciary Committee, he wrote: “Neither I, nor any of my current staff, had such a role.”
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Feinstein also ticked through a list of attacks, saying Sessions may support overturning Roe v. Wade and had previously voiced support for enhanced interrogation – a heated item following Trump’s musings about trying to bring back waterboarding.
“These positions give me no confidence the nominee will uphold our laws and civil liberties as attorney general,” Feinstein said.
Committee Democrats held up former acting Attorney General Sally Yates, who was fired by Trump Monday night after directing Justice Department lawyers to not defend his travel ban, as a contrast against Sessions and Trump.
Photos: Trump's nominees and their confirmation hearings
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J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Director of National Intelligence —
Vice President Mike Pence, right, administers the oath of office to Dan Coats, the new director of national intelligence, on Thursday, March 16. Coats was accompanied by his wife, Marsha. He was confirmed by the Senate the day before.
Photos: Trump's nominees and their confirmation hearings
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Alex Brandon/AP
Director of National Intelligence —
Coats speaks on Capitol Hill before his confirmation hearing in February. The former US senator from Indiana was the US ambassador to Germany in the first term of George W. Bush's administration.
Photos: Trump's nominees and their confirmation hearings
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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Secretary of Energy —
New Energy Secretary Rick Perry speaks at his swearing-in ceremony in Washington on Thursday, March 2. The former Texas governor was confirmed by a Senate vote of 62-37.
Photos: Trump's nominees and their confirmation hearings
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Bill Clark/AP
Secretary of Energy —
Perry is sworn in before his confirmation hearing in January. During his testimony, Perry cast himself as an advocate for a range of energy sources, noting that he presided over the nation's leading energy-producing state. He also said he regrets once calling for the Energy Department's elimination.
Photos: Trump's nominees and their confirmation hearings
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Alex Wong/Getty Images
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development —
Ben Carson is joined by his wife, Candy, and his granddaughter Tesora as he is sworn in as the secretary of housing and urban development on March 2. The renowned neurosurgeon and former presidential candidate was confirmed by a vote of 58-41.
Photos: Trump's nominees and their confirmation hearings
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SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development —
Carson greets Tesora prior to testifying before the Senate Committee of Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs in January. In his opening statement, he noted that he was raised by a single mother who had a "third-grade education" and made the case that he understands the issues facing the millions of people who rely on HUD programs.
Photos: Trump's nominees and their confirmation hearings
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Andrew Harnik/AP
Secretary of the Interior —
New Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke signs an official document after he was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday, March 1. The former congressman from Montana was joined by his wife, Lolita, as well as Vice President Mike Pence, US Sen. Steve Daines and Montana Attorney General Tim Fox.
Photos: Trump's nominees and their confirmation hearings
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JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images
Secretary of the Interior —
Zinke, a former Navy SEAL, is sworn in before his confirmation hearing in January. He pledged to review Obama administration actions that limit oil and gas drilling in Alaska, and he said he does not believe climate change is a hoax.
Photos: Trump's nominees and their confirmation hearings
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Evan Vucci/AP
Secretary of Commerce —
Pence swears in new Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross as Ross' wife, Hilary, stands by on Tuesday, February 28. The billionaire was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 72-27.
Photos: Trump's nominees and their confirmation hearings
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Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Secretary of Commerce —
Ross, center, waits to be introduced by US Sen. Marco Rubio, right, at his confirmation hearing in January. At the hearing, Ross said he wants countries that resort to "malicious" trading tactics to be "severely" punished. He pointed the finger at China, which he called "the most protectionist country of very large countries."
Photos: Trump's nominees and their confirmation hearings
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Carolyn Kaster/AP
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency —
Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito swears in Scott Pruitt as the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday, February 17. Holding the Bible is Pruitt's wife, Marlyn, and they were joined by their son, Cade. Pruitt, the former attorney general of Oklahoma, was confirmed by the Senate 52-46.
Photos: Trump's nominees and their confirmation hearings
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J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency —
Pruitt testifies at his confirmation hearing in January. Pruitt said he doesn't believe climate change is a hoax, but he didn't indicate he would take swift action to address environmental issues that may contribute to climate change. He said there is still debate over how to respond.
Photos: Trump's nominees and their confirmation hearings
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Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Director, Office of Management and Budget —
Pence shakes hands with Mick Mulvaney after swearing him in as the new director of the Office of Management and Budget on Thursday, February 16. Mulvaney's wife, Pam, looks on. Mulvaney had been a congressman since 2011.
