U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions‘ confirmation hearing to become the next U.S. Attorney General has yet to begin, and already Ohio-Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown says he won’t confirm the Alabama Republican.
Brown sat down with Sessions on Wednesday to discuss his record on civil rights and plans for the U.S. Department of Justice, and disapproved of what Sessions had to say.
“The U.S. Attorney General’s job is to enforce laws that protect the rights of every American,” Brown said in a news release. “I have serious concerns that Senator Sessions’ record on civil rights is at direct odds with the task of promoting justice and equality for all, and I cannot support his nomination.”
Brown continued, “Now, more than ever, we need leaders who can bring Americans together to improve police-community relations, ensure that all Americans have access to the ballot, and reform our criminal justice system.”
Brown is the first U.S. Senator to say to explicitly say he will oppose Sessions to lead the Justice Department, though several others have signaled their concerns over President-elect Donald Trump‘s AG nominee.
Sessions’ confirmation hearing is scheduled to begin Tues., Jan. 10.
