Since before the election, Vice President Joe Biden has lamented that he didn’t run for the presidency himself. He has largely been an outspoken critic of president-elect Donald Trump, though he recently made a surprising statement that indicates a level of support for Senator Jeff Sessions to become the next Attorney General.
The statement came during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, who pointed out that Biden once led an attempt to block Sessions from receiving a federal appointment. At the time, then-Senator Biden charged that his Alabama colleague was a racial extremist. It’s a charge that many on the left are attempting to revive, though Democrats who know Sessions well have debunked the claim.
Biden indicated that he was fine with Trump’s appointment of Sessions.
“I wouldn’t have appointed Jeff, but you know, people learn. People change,” Vice President Biden said. “My general rule is, the president gets to chose who he wants or she wants for their cabinet members, unless they’re taking over the job with the expressed purpose of not enforcing the law in that area.”
“Within bounds, the president should get the person they want for that job as long as they commit under oath that they are going to uphold the law,” Biden added.
Other Democratic leaders, particularly in Alabama, have stood by Sessions. Last week, State Senator Quinton Ross, Jr. (D- Montgomery) said that since being nominated by the Trump Administration, he has been in close communication with Sessions. He believes that Sessions will be “accessible” to his constituents, adding that he has confidence in the Senator’s personal values.
“We’ve spoken about everything from Civil Rights to race relations and we agree that as Christian men our hearts and minds are focused on doing right by all people,” Sen. Ross said.
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