Jeff Sessions

Throughout the history of modern nations, they all have intelligence agencies and have to operate with some degree of secrecy.

It just almost is not done unless it has to be done for some very significant reason.

I think it creates quite a bit of pressure to give Miranda warnings on many, many, many cases if the presumption is those cases are going to be tried in Federal court and not a military commission, that this is going to reduce the amount…

The point of which is this is institutionally deep in the culture of the Department of Justice.

The high burden placed on the Government by these bills will make it difficult, if not impossible, to investigate harms to the national security and only encourage others to illegally disclose the Nation's sensitive secrets.

Yes, sir, and we thank you so much. They really did.

Well, I think that's true.

Well, law enforcement overwhelmingly is a State and local responsibility.

Maybe some national training. Maybe we don't have enough national training centers.

Did Federal funding help the backlog, to your knowledge?

That's pretty clear that that happened and it troubles me, as someone who has spent a lot of time in law enforcement.

I don't accept the idea that they seem to suggest that fingerprints is not a proven technology.

More innocent people could have a cloud removed from them and not be charged.

Forensic sciences in America does present a challenge, in my view. It's something that I have felt strongly about for many, many years.

I think you would say that the forensic sciences are being shortchanged financially and we can do better.

If that was the only thing in the world I had as evidence against a defendant I might be a bit nervous if I were a juror or a prosecutor.

The first thing the Federal Government could do in a positive way is to spend the money to do the kind of research that can benefit every State and local law enforcement agency in America.

Does that exist today?

The Federal Government has a lot of problems, but one of them should not be to try to micromanage every burglary, robbery, or rape case in America.

You might push your button there to go on record.

One of the biggest things that was delaying justice in America is getting your forensic sciences reports completed in an effectively and timely way.

I think there's nothing wrong with you having been with a major corporation and you have the other side experience, too, in the Department.

I believe that establishing the guidelines is the role of Congress.

Congratulations to each of you for your nomination. I'm happy for you and your families.

Our position is that if speech is involved it's commercial speech, which is not entitled to the same protection under the law as political speech.