Jeff Sessions

There is no general Federal crime. So, many things like larceny and even murder, when there is no civil rights connection, have traditionally been totally the responsibility of the States.

Those are the kinds of things that we do need to guard against.

I would hope you would stand solidly against it.

A lawful business should not be attacked by having other lawful businesses pressured not to do business with the first business.

I believe in background check laws, and many of them are appropriate.

The first and foremost goal, I think, of law enforcement would be to identify persons who are dangerous, who have a tendency or have been proven to be lawbreakers and been convicted.

I would use the appropriate Federal agencies, and I do believe it is in violation of the law to excessively or improperly hinder even the access to an abortion clinic.

I disavow any activity like that, absolutely, and a group that would even suggest that is unacceptable.

I welcome your condemnation of the Ku Klux Klan.

As Attorney General, you have to follow the law, you have to be consistent, and you have to be honorable in your decisionmaking.

I suggested that Attorney General Lynch should appoint a special counsel in the Clinton matter.

Well, there are reasonable arguments to be made for that.

I would not commit, at this time, to appointing a special counsel when I am not aware of a precise factual situation that would be in play.

I do not have plans to vote on my nomination.

I think the problem there is a desire to achieve a result sometimes that overrides their commitment to the law.

The Solicitor General should not advocate to alter the meaning of words to advance an agenda.

Any short-term political agenda gains that come from the abuse of the lawmaking processes and requirements of the Department of Justice just do not make sense.

I do believe it has a corrosive effect on public confidence and the constitutional republic of which we are sworn to uphold.

It is the law. It is the law, and it needs to be enforced. Absolutely.

I thought that was an unwise step, to take something that directs even the lowest private to do, to make that the rule for higher-ups.

I was concerned about what we are beginning to see--a rise in crime--and, at the same time, a decline in sentences.

I think it is problematic and difficult to justify a prosecutor charging five kilos of heroin when the actual amount was 10, to get a lower sentence.

I made a speech in favor of it saying what you are saying, that it was disproportionately impacting our African-American community and we needed to fix it, and eventually that was passed.

It is perfectly legitimate for prisoners to work, but in decent conditions.

I do not favor personally this kind of work. I think it should be more productive work.