Senator Cory Booker has attacked Donald Trump's cabinet picks just hours after Trump's transition team announced Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions was the president-elect's nominee for attorney general. The Democrat from New Jersey called Trump's choice inconsistent with what Americans believe.
Alarming trend in Trump's choices
"There is a growing and alarming trend among the individuals President-elect Trump is naming to key positions in his administration," Booker said in a statement. "Some have degraded and demeaned Americans. Others actively promote dangerous fringe ideologies.
Still more have threatened Americans’ rights, and attacked the privileges of citizenship."
Booker directly criticized Trump's choice of Jeff Sessions for attorney general. Sessions has opposed legalizing same sex marriage, repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and is a staunch conservative and ally of Donald Trump. Sessions failed to become a judge in the Alabama Southern District in 1986 after claims he said the NAACP and ACLU were 'un-american' and 'Communist-inspired'.
"The Attorney General has a duty to enforce the rule of law fairly and pursue equal justice under the law," Booker said. "One of the core functions of the Department of Justice is to protect Americans’ civil rights, and to defend those who have been denied them.
Another key function of the Department of Justice is to protect our security, but never sacrifice our civil liberties."
Conflicting ideologies threaten civil rights
Booker has worked with Sessions in the Senate for many years and he is afraid Sessions does not have the right set of views to protect Americans' rights. "Like any cabinet-level nominee, Senator Sessions deserves a fair hearing before the Senate and I look forward to fully reviewing his nomination before casting my vote," Booker said.
"But based on my experience over three years of working with him, I am concerned that he possesses ideologies that are in conflict with basic tenants of the Justice Department’s mission"
"Not only has Senator Sessions been a staunch opponent of reforming the tragic shortcomings in our criminal justice system, he holds a number of views that are inconsistent with how most Americans believe justice should be applied under our Constitution."
Sessions is the first nominee for a senior position that the Trump team has announced. Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn will become Assistant to the President for National Security and Congressman Mike Pompeo will be nominated for Director of the CIA.
