Alabama Senate Race Could Pit Jeff Sessions Against Roy Moore

Roy Moore

Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore is back and running for U.S. Senate - again.

And the Republican Party is not happy. Even Donald Trump, who like Moore has his own issues with allegations of sexual misconduct, is against another Moore candidacy.

Republicans cannot allow themselves to again lose the Senate seat in the Great State of Alabama. This time it will be for Six Years, not just Two. I have NOTHING against Roy Moore, and unlike many other Republican leaders, wanted him to win. But he didn’t, and probably won’t.....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2019

...If Alabama does not elect a Republican to the Senate in 2020, many of the incredible gains that we have made during my Presidency may be lost, including our Pro-Life victories. Roy Moore cannot win, and the consequences will be devastating....Judges and Supreme Court Justices!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2019

This is pure fake news. I can assure everyone that by running, Roy Moore is going against my father and he’s doing a disservice to all conservatives across the country in the process. https://t.co/pjfDKfoIO0

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) June 20, 2019

But Moore told NBC News on Friday, "I think the president's being influenced by other people up there — the establishment."

Multiple other Republican candidates have announced their own bids for the state’s Republican nomination to take on Jones in 2020. Moore told NBC News: "If people want them, they'll elect them. But I have a strong base here. And they'll elect me."

He said the potential addition of Jeff Sessions, who served as senator from Alabama prior to being tapped as Trump's first attorney general, would not lead him to exit the race.

"I don’t step aside for anybody when I’m running," Moore said, adding: "I love Jeff Sessions. He’s a friend. I respect him. If he wants to get in the race, let him get in the race. I don’t have any problem with it."

Republicans are promising to do everything they can to obliterate Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate primaryhttps://t.co/DQWznA0vpi

— POLITICO (@politico) June 20, 2019

Retweeting this as Roy Moore announces he’s running for the Senate. Twice removed as Alabama’s Chief Justice for failing to follow the law & with a history of sexual misconduct toward minors, he will be the GOP’s front runner (at least until we hear if Sessions will get in.) https://t.co/zSsjS6KY3y

— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) June 20, 2019

SNL Says 'Goodbye' To Attorney General Jeff Sessions

With the news that Donald Trump fired his Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, one day after the midterm elections, how could SNL not say goodbye to their "Jeff Sessions" played by Kate McKinnon?

It's time to pack up and get out, "Jeff," but before you do some folks want to come say good-bye including Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Aidy Bryant), Mike Pence (Beck Bennett), Eric Trump (Alex Moffat), Donald Trump Jr. (Mikey Day) and Robert Mueller (Robert De Niro).

As Sessions wonders what else he could have done to please his boss (“I don’t understand what I did wrong? I put kids in cages. I said no to gays? What more did you want?”), Bennet’s Pence finds his mind wandering: “I’m sorry, I heard the words ‘gays in cages’ and I went somewhere crazy.”

And the Trump boys, Junior and Eric, check in with Sessions to see if they are going to get "some penis" (or subpoenas, but, whatever).

And then Mueller is the final goodbye, but at least he brings a going away present.

Watch below.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions Resigns 'At The Request' Of Donald Trump

Jeff Sessions

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has resigned at the request of the president.

Isn't that like being fired?

Via Buzzfeed:

Sessions’ resignation comes a day after the midterm elections, which was long seen as the expiration date for Sessions’ tenure as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer. Trump made clear his displeasure with Sessions early on, but wasn’t expected to make any major changes in his cabinet before the election.

Trump later confirmed in a tweet that he had accepted Sessions’ resignation and thanked him for his service. An administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Kelly called Sessions before the president held a press conference midday Wednesday to ask for his resignation.

Session’s chief of staff Matthew Whitaker will take over as acting attorney general, while the White House seeks a permanent replacement, Trump tweeted shortly after Sessions’ letter became public.

Whitaker, who will be sworn in on Wednesday, will take on oversight of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, assuming there are no ethics issues that would prevent him from doing so.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein — who was still in his job as of Wednesday afternoon — had taken on responsibility for the probe after Sessions recused last year.

Under Justice Department regulations, Mueller can only be removed from office “for misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest, or for other good cause.”

Dear Mr. President,
At your request, I am submitting my resignation...
Jeff Sessions

Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be bumpy ride. pic.twitter.com/xiUCfbAZ19

— Greg Hogben (@MyDaughtersArmy) November 7, 2018

Hours after the polls closed:

1. Trump fired Jeff Sessions

2. Removed Rosenstein from overseeing the Russia investigation

3. Installed Matt Whitaker to replace Sessions and oversee the Russia investigation. Whitaker has publicly stated that Mueller has exceeded his authority

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) November 7, 2018

Get ready to fight for the Mueller probe. Thank goodness we won the House. Pelosi on watch now! https://t.co/Veyx2w1BLG

— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) November 7, 2018

As Dem leaders fall for Trump's sweet whisperings of "bipartisanship," THIS is who Trump just installed: #MatthewWhitaker at Justice.

A man who explicitly went after #Mueller.https://t.co/Q2x7JQjtm2

— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) November 7, 2018

*jeff sessions sobs in a corner, swearing he can be even more racist if they’d just take him back*

— Kashana (@kashanacauley) November 7, 2018

Trump Rips AG Jeff Sessions: "I Don't Have An Attorney General - It's Very Sad"

Donald Trump

In a new interview with Hill.tv, Donald Trump eviscerates his own Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, on a multitude of issues.

“I don’t have an Attorney General," said Trump. "It’s very sad."

The Trumpster has been angry with Sessions from practically day one of his time in the administration.

Sessions' original sin was recusing himself from the investigation being led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, which infuriated Trump.

"I’m not happy at the border, I’m not happy with numerous things, not just this," said the president, referring to the recusal.

"I’m so sad over Jeff Sessions because he came to me," laments Trump. "He was the first Senator that endorsed me. And he wanted to be Attorney General, and I didn’t see it."

"And then he went through the nominating process and he did very poorly. I mean, he was mixed up and confused, and people that worked with him for, you know, a long time in the Senate were not nice to him, but he was giving very confusing answers. Answers that should have been easily answered. And that was a rough time for him.”

Asked if he is considering firing Sessions, Trump said, "We’ll see how it goes with Jeff. I’m very disappointed in Jeff. Very disappointed."

Attorney General Jeff Sessions during his confirmation hearings

Attorney General Jeff Sessions Finally Claps Back At Donald Trump

Attorney General Jeff Sessions

You could consider this one of those "the mouse that roared" moments.

Beleaguered Attorney General Jeff Sessions finally clapped back at his boss, Donald Trump, today after the Trumpster told Fox News in an interview that Sessions never took "control" of the Justice Department.

Here’s the full statement from Sessions via Mother Jones:

I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in, which is why we have had unprecedented success at effectuating the President’s agenda—one that protects the safety and security and rights of the American people, reduces violent crime, enforces our immigration laws, promotes economic growth, and advances religious liberty.

While I am Attorney General, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations. I demand the highest standards, and where they are not met, I take action. However, no nation has a more talented, more dedicated group of law enforcement investigators and prosecutors than the United States.

I am proud to serve with them and proud of the work we have done in successfully advancing the rule of law.

In related news, Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters today that Trump will likely fire Sessions after the midterm elections.

Graham predicts Trump will "very likely" fire Sessions after midterms https://t.co/iLg577yGC8 pic.twitter.com/rcSGSgjS5S

— The Hill (@thehill) August 23, 2018

Attorney General Announces 'Religious Liberty Task Force" to Promote & Protect Anti-LGBTQ Discrimination

Attorney General Jeff Sessions

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has announced the creation of a ‘Religious Liberty Task Force” in order to help implement a 25-page memo he issued last October regarding the protection and promotion of ‘religious liberty.’

Speaking at the Justice Department today, Sessions told reporters he will chair the new task force.

“A dangerous movement, undetected by many, but real, is now challenging and eroding a great tradition of religious freedom,” said Sessions with a dramatic sense of foreboding. “There can be no doubt it’s no little matter. It must be confronted intellectually and politically and defeated.”

1/ This morning Jeff Sessions announced a "Religious Liberty Task Force" as he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with anti-#LGBTQ activists. pic.twitter.com/9IRiGhulfD

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) July 30, 2018

In today’s political climate, it's clear the subject being discussed includes legal challenges brought by the LGBTQ community regarding discrimination in the public sector. Sessions referenced anti-LGBTQ baker Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop who refused to sell a wedding cake to a gay couple in Colorado.

More from The Hill:

“We’ve seen nuns ordered to buy contraceptives. We’ve seen U.S. senators ask judicial and executive branch nominees about dogma—even though the Constitution explicitly forbids a religious test for public office. We’ve all seen the ordeal faced so bravely by Jack Phillips,” he said, referring to the Colorado baker who took his case to the Supreme Court after he was found to have violated the state’s anti-discrimination laws for refusing to make a cake for a same-sex wedding.

Sessions said the guidance he issued in October lays out 20 fundamental principles for the executive branch to follow, including the principles that free exercise means a right to act — or to abstain from action — and that government shouldn’t impugn people’s motives or beliefs.

“In short, we have not only the freedom to worship—but the right to exercise our faith. The Constitution’s protections don’t end at the parish parking lot nor can our freedoms be confined to our basements,” he said, according to his prepared remarks.

Sessions also shared that he believes the issue of ‘religious liberty’ is one reason why Donald Trump was elected president. “In substance, he said he respected people of faith and he promised to protect them in the free exercise of their faith,” said Sessions. “He declared we would say ‘Merry Christmas’ again.”

You can watch the full speech by Sessions below, and you can read a full transcript of his speech here.

Jeff Sessions On Children At The Border: We're Not Like Nazis Because Nazis Were Keeping Jews From Leaving The Country

Speaking with Fox News Monday night, Attorney General Jeff Sessions defended the current scandal regarding ripping children away from their parents at the U.S. southern border saying, "This is not like Nazi Germany because in Nazi Germany they were keeping the Jews from leaving the country."

I'm pretty sure that when you have to explain to people why your policies aren't exactly like Nazi Germany, it's time to rethink your policies.

Sessions says this is not like Nazi Germany "because in Nazi Germany, they were keeping the Jews from leaving the country!" pic.twitter.com/v2BiWN8aXj

— Brian Tashman (@briantashman) June 19, 2018

Trump Twitter Rant: I Wish I'd Never Hired Jeff Sessions

Donald Trump

Another day, another Twitter rant from Donald Trump.

On today's menu: the Trumpster returns to an old favorite - "I wish I'd never hired Jeff Sessions as Attorney General."

Ah yes, it's an oldie but goodie.

Trump spun off several missives about Sessions' recusal in the Russian interference investigation quoting outgoing Congressman Trey Gowdy:

“I don’t think so, I think what the President is doing is expressing frustration that Attorney General Sessions should have shared these reasons for recusal before he took the job, not afterward. If I were the President and I picked someone to be the country’s chief law enforcement officer, and they told me later, ‘oh by the way I’m not going to be able to participate in the most important case in the office, I would be frustrated too and that’s how I read that – Senator Sessions, why didn’t you tell me before I picked you…...There are lots of really good lawyers in the country, he could have picked somebody else!” And I wish I did!

Rep.Trey Gowdy, “I don’t think so, I think what the President is doing is expressing frustration that Attorney General Sessions should have shared these reasons for recusal before he took the job, not afterward. If I were the President and I picked someone to be the country’s....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2018

....chief law enforcement officer, and they told me later, ‘oh by the way I’m not going to be able to participate in the most important case in the office, I would be frustrated too...and that’s how I read that - Senator Sessions, why didn’t you tell me before I picked you.....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2018

....There are lots of really good lawyers in the country, he could have picked somebody else!” And I wish I did!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2018

This is all probably related to a new report in The New York Times that shows Sessions traveled to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in March of 2017 thinking he was going to discuss his boss' proposed travel ban.

Instead, Trump reportedly asked Sessions to reverse his decision to recuse himself on the Russian investigation so that the president would have a "loyalist" in the mix. Sessions declined.

By the way, Trump might be quoting Rep. Trey Gowdy here, but he's ignoring Gowdy's support for the FBI's use of an informant in the ongoing Russian probe.

From The Washington Post:

Outgoing Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), the House Oversight Committee Chairman and Trump supporter, said in an interview on Fox that the FBI was justified in using a secret informant to assist in the Russia investigation. Gowdy, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, attended a classified Justice Department briefing last week over the FBI’s use of the confidential source, identified as Stefan A. Halper.

“President Trump himself in the Comey memos said if anyone connected with my campaign was working with Russia, I want you to investigate it, and it sounds to me like that is exactly what the FBI did,” Gowdy told host Martha MacCallum. “I think when the president finds out what happened, he is going to be not just fine, he is going to be glad that we have an FBI that took seriously what they heard.”

AG Jeff Sessions Considering Firing Andrew McCabe Just Days Before Retirement, Would Lose Pension After 22 Years At FBI

Andrew McCabe

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is considering firing former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe just days before his retirement.

McCabe is set to officially retire on March 18 but, according to a source, could be fired just days before and lose his pension after a 22-year career.

McCabe stepped down in January, many say he was told to do so. His official retirement couldn't begin until this Sunday as he needs to be 50 years-old to leave the FBI with his pension intact.

More from CNN:

CNN has learned the FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility has recommended McCabe be fired and now the decision is up to Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

The issue stems from findings in an internal Justice Department watchdog report that claims he misled investigators about his decision to authorize FBI officials to speak to the media about an investigation into the Clinton Foundation.

A representative for McCabe declined to comment.

That report, which has been complete for over a week, according to the source, has not been released publicly. The office is currently examining how investigations were handled at the department and the FBI in advance of the 2016 presidential election, including, notably, the Hillary Clinton email server probe.

JUST IN: Attorney General Jeff Sessions is considering firing former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. He is set to officially retire on March 18 but, according to a source, could be fired just days before and lose his pension after a 22-year career https://t.co/cp770Ktg2N pic.twitter.com/uTQlQTvhlL

— CNN (@CNN) March 14, 2018

McCabe is scheduled to retire on Sunday. This smacks of a petty, cruel effort to deny him his pension after 21 years of service to his country. https://t.co/4omLShxFIf

— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) March 14, 2018

Sessions is reportedly considering firing Andrew McCabe just days before he retires. If fired, he will have to give up a pension worth $1.8 million that he earned for serving in the FBI for 2+ decades

I don't care what party you are. This is just immoral and SAD!

— Brian Krassenstein🐬 (@krassenstein) March 14, 2018

After all that the GOP & Trump have done that is wrong, this is a form of bullying, almost terrorism. Firing Andrew McCabe after 21 yrs of svc < ONE WK before retirement is just wrong. #WednesdayWisdom #TheResistancehttps://t.co/OLgBOWa5Gd

— Mona (@Monaheart1229) March 14, 2018

Trump Attacks AG Jeff Sessions For Announcing Investigation Into Possible Surveillance Abuse

Attorney General Jeff Sessions

File this one under "Infighting is funny:"

Earlier today, Donald Trump issued a twitter rant at his own Attorney General Jeff Sessions after Sessions' announcement that he will ask the inspector general of the Department of Justice to look into allegations of government surveillance abuse.

Trump went ballistic tweeting:

Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse. Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc. Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!

Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse. Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc. Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2018

After months of being a public punching bag for Trump, Sessions has issued a rare public response to the attack this morning which called him “disgraceful” for his handling of the FISA warrants issue.

Via press release from the Department Of Justice:

“We have initiated the appropriate process that will ensure complaints against this Department will be fully and fairly acted upon if necessary. As long as I am the Attorney General, I will continue to discharge my duties with integrity and honor, and this Department will continue to do its work in a fair and impartial manner according to the law and Constitution.” – Jeff Sessions.

In spite of Trump's tirade, Congressional Republicans stood by the decision and Inspector General Michael Horowitz.

Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina and current chairman of the House Oversight Committee, lauded Horowitz on Wednesday saying he has been “fair, fact centric, and appropriately confidential with his work.”

“I have complete confidence in him and hope he is given the time, the resources and the independence to complete his work,” Mr. Gowdy said.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also signaled his support for Mr. Horowitz.

More from the Twitterverse (and these are serious-minded people, folks):

Trump’s tweet attacking Sessions also unfairly smeared DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz, a serious and respected investigator. Horowitz is not Sessions’ “employee” but one would expect the AG to object when a disrespectful politician hurls an unjustified attack at DOJ’s IG. https://t.co/kBWsYfoIDE

— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) February 28, 2018

He wants political appointees to prosecute FBI officials for lawfully getting FISA surveillance warrants to watch persons who collaborated with Russian agents. He does not trust an independent Inspector General, but wants political hacks to go after his own FBI. Abuse of power. https://t.co/mLlgPvSGEk

— Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) February 28, 2018

And these are Republicans over at Fox News:

This is Trump at his worst. He is asking that the DOJ investigate itself. The inspector general, who has his own staff of lawyers and investigators, at least enjoys a measure of independence from the department. Trump still wants the AG to act his political goalie. https://t.co/KhAZ4VDmIz

— Brit Hume (@brithume) February 28, 2018

.@KarlRove on Trump tweet about AG Sessions: "If you want to be successful as president, you got to step back, be the adult, absorb some of these little blows and keep focus on the big things. And the big thing is not to attack the Inspector General as quote 'an Obama-guy.'" pic.twitter.com/i5v8qumTaw

— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) February 28, 2018

AG Jeff Sessions Questioned Regarding Russian Investigation

Attorney General Jeff Sessions

Last week, Attorney General Jeff Sessions became the first cabinet member of Donald Trump's administration to be questioned by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team looking into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Additionally, former FBI director, James Comey, has been interviewed by the special counsel's team.

From The New York Times:

The interview with Mr. Comey focused on a series of memos he wrote about his interactions with Mr. Trump that unnerved Mr. Comey. In one memo, Mr. Comey said that Mr. Trump had asked him to end the F.B.I.’s investigation into the former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn.

After the president’s request was disclosed, the deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein, appointed Mr. Mueller as the special counsel to lead the Russia investigation and examine whether the president obstructed justice.

The attorney general announced in March that he had recused himself from all matters related to the 2016 election, including the Russia inquiry. The disclosure came after it was revealed that Mr. Sessions had not told Congress that he met twice with the Russian ambassador to the United States at the time, Sergey I. Kislyak, during the campaign.

We knew Mueller was investigating potential conspiracy between @realDonaldTrump officials & Russia. Dept of Justice spokesperson in this story on Attorney General Jeff Sessions now confirms Mueller is, in fact, also investigating potential Obstruction of Justice by @POTUS. https://t.co/kxNz1atXQW

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 23, 2018

Trump Ordered White House Lawyer To Convince AG Jeff Sessions From Recusing Himself From Russian Probe

Without a doubt, this revelation moves the Trump White House closer and closer to a charge of obstruction of justice.

Trump wanted an Attorney General who would "protect" him.

Why would an innocent person need to be protected?

From The New York Times:

President Trump gave firm instructions in March to the White House’s top lawyer: stop the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, from recusing himself in the Justice Department’s investigation into whether Mr. Trump’s associates had helped a Russian campaign to disrupt the 2016 election.

Public pressure was building for Mr. Sessions, who had been a senior member of the Trump campaign, to step aside. But the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, carried out the president’s orders and lobbied Mr. Sessions to remain in charge of the inquiry, according to two people with knowledge of the episode.

Mr. McGahn was unsuccessful, and the president erupted in anger in front of numerous White House officials, saying he needed his attorney general to protect him. Mr. Trump said he had expected his top law enforcement official to safeguard him the way he believed Robert F. Kennedy, as attorney general, had done for his brother John F. Kennedy and Eric H. Holder Jr. had for Barack Obama.

Mr. Trump then asked, “Where’s my Roy Cohn?” He was referring to his former personal lawyer and fixer, who had been Senator Joseph R. McCarthy’s top aide during the investigations into communist activity in the 1950s and died in 1986.

The report goes on to say that just days before FBI Director James Comey was fired, aides for Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked congressional staffers if they had dirt on Comey. Clearly, there was a thought to try and smear the FBI director.

The extremely-nonpartisan Associated Press has now corroborated this story.

Not to be heavyhanded but it bears repeating - the Attorney General does not serve to protect the president.

It is the Attorney General's job to enforce the laws of the United States.

There's irony in Trump's call for his own "Roy Cohn" given Trump's own disloyalty to the infamous attorney once he was diagnosed with AIDS.

NYT today quotes Trump as saying "where is my Roy Cohn?" to lament what he sees as his lack of loyal protectors. But @mckaycoppins reported in 2016 that Trump cut ties with Roy Cohn when he found out Cohn was HIV-positive (https://t.co/jjWMBEL8le): pic.twitter.com/KXdHNI9MQV

— Taniel (@Taniel) January 5, 2018

Trump, regarding Sessions, “Where’s my Roy Cohn.”

Roy Cohn, Donald? You mean the evil engineer of the fifties witch hunt against Russian influence in our government? (So ironic)

Your homosexual best friend whom you abandoned after his AIDS diagnosis? That Roy Cohn?

— S B Hammel (@lasteve423) January 5, 2018

For the straights: Roy Cohn was a self-hating gay who helped McCarthy implement McCarthyism. Later he became Trump's lawyer and mentor until Trump found our he had AIDS and dumped him.

— Grant (@NotSoNiceville) January 5, 2018

AG Jeff Sessions: I'm Not Sure If Federal Workers Can Discriminate Against LGBTs

Attorney General Jeff Sessions

According to testimony before U.S. Senate Oversight Committee, Attorney General Jeff Sessions isn't sure if federal workers can or cannot blatantly discriminate against LGBT people.

From Dominic Holden at ThinkProgress:

During Wednesday’s Justice Department Oversight Hearing, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions about the Department of Justice’s new “religious freedom” guidance. In particular, Durbin was concerned about how the guidance might enable anti-LGBTQ discrimination, asking Sessions to respond to several hypotheticals.

“Could a social security administration employee refuse to accept or process spousal or survivor benefits paperwork for a surviving same-sex spouse?” Durbin asked.

There was a long pause. “That’s something I never thought would arise, but I would have to give you a written answer to that, if you don’t mind.” Sessions responded.

Durbin countered, “I’d like to have that,” then launched right into another hypothetical. “Could a federal contractor refuse to provide services to LGBTQ people, including in emergencies, without risk of losing federal contracts?”

“Likewise, but I would say to you — are you citing Title VII for this? Or the guidance? I’m not sure that’s covered by it, but I’ll look.”

Sessions is famously anti-LGBT on just about every issue.

Watch the exchange below.

Durbin: Does religious liberty guidance let fed workers & contractors refuse LGBT people?

Sessions: [4 second pause] I'll get back to you. pic.twitter.com/E67XzDxh9e

— Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) October 18, 2017

News Round-Up: October 16, 2017

(via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Fitness model Rodiney Santiago (above) facing down Monday like a boss.

• Thanks to California's newly signed Gender Recognition Act, folks will soon be able to identify as nonbinary, in addition to male or female, on state-issued identity documents, including driver's licenses and birth certificates.

• Considering he has never been a friend to the LGBT community, eyebrows were raised when U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent an experienced hate crime lawyer to Iowa to aid in prosecuting a man accused of killing a transgender high school student.

• In pop culture news, original Charlie's Angels star Jaclyn Smith says the ladies of the hit 1970s series are thinking about getting together for a reunion. In addition to Jaclyn (Kelly), the surviving "angels" are Cheryl Ladd (Kris), 66; Kate Jackson (Sabrina), 68; Tanya Roberts (Julie), 61; and Shelley Hack (Tiffany), 70.

• Out radio show/columnist Dan Savage has raised over $200K via his ITMFA website. Upon hitting the second $100K, he sent checks to Planned Parenthood ($33,333.33), the ACLU ($33,333.33) and the International Refugee Assistance Project ($33,333.34). The money was raised selling ITMFA (“Impeach The Mother Fucker Already”) buttons, t-shirts, tanks, hats, stickers, coffee cups, and lapel pins at www.ITMFA.org.

• Transgender hip hop artist Epiphany Mattel released her debut single, "Fix Yo Face," which she says has an important message. “It’s about everyone going above and beyond with their appearance to stand out and be noticed at clubs today, but then they bring their scowl, a ‘resting bitch face,’ that makes them unapproachable,” explains Mattel.

“They’re so insecure with themselves, they push that negative energy on the rest of the party and make everyone else uncomfortable. It's a party bitches… lighten the hell up,” she adds.

Watch the music video below:

Attorney General Sessions Reverses Course On Policy Protecting Transgender Folks In Workplace

Attorney General Jeff Sessions

Deeply disappointing but not a surprise by any means, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced today that his Department of Justice has reversed course on the Obama era position that federal law bans sex discrimination in the workplace.

Going forward the DOJ's position is that Title VII does not offer any protections for transgender individuals in the workplace.

From Reuters:

The memo sent to U.S. Attorneys’ offices on Wednesday by Attorney General Jeff Sessions says Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 only prohibits discrimination on the basis of a worker’s biological sex, and not their gender identity.

Sessions rescinded a Justice Department memo from 2014 that said Title VII does protect transgender people, a position also taken by several federal appeals courts in recent years.

It was the Trump administration’s latest move to roll back Obama administration policies on LGBT issues. In August, President Donald Trump signed a memo directing the U.S. military not to accept transgender men and women as recruits, reversing a policy that allowed transgender people to serve openly.

And last month, the Justice Department appeared before a federal appeals court in Manhattan to argue that Title VII does not provide protections to gay and lesbian workers.

Yet another hostile move against the LGBTQ community from Donald "Better for the Gays" Trump.

Here's just a few of the LGBTQ advocacy groups responding to the memo.

Stacey Long Simmons, Director of Advocacy and Action, National LGBTQ Task Force:

"This memo contradicts what is already established legal precedent. Courts across the country have agreed that sex protections include gender identity. The plain truth is that Attorney General Sessions is running the Justice Department with a clear anti-transgender bias, not current law.

"This is only the latest example of the administration’s broad reaching anti-LGBTQ policy changes. There is a pungent stench coming from the Trump/Pence Administration and its actors."

Kellan Baker, Board of Directors, Equality Federation

“Sessions' shameful memo is yet another purely political attack on some of the most vulnerable members of our community: transgender people like me.

"The vast majority of Americans and the courts agree that transgender people should have a fair opportunity to provide for ourselves and our families, free from discrimination on the basis of who we are.

"Even as this administration continues its attacks on LGBTQ communities and on our friends and allies, we will continue our fight to live and work safely and with dignity in the communities we call home.”

News Roundup: July 25, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• Let's hear it for the bears! Furball in focus (above).

• According to a new USA Today poll, Americans are split 42% yes/42% no on whether President Trump should be impeached.

• The Queer Insurrection and Liberation Army, or TQILA, is a newly-formed LGBT-centric unit of volunteers who have joined the fight against ISIS in Syria.

These Faggots Kill Fascists! We shoot back! The Black & Pink and Rainbow flag fly in Raqqa. #Queers smashing the Caliphate. #TQILA #YPJ #YPG pic.twitter.com/eBCssrbjMI

— IRPGF (@IRPGF) July 24, 2017

• Trump says Attorney General Jeff Sessions only endorsed him for president because of his "massive numbers" at campaign rallies. #brutal

• Always on the lookout for new out music? Check out this list of summer tunes by LGBT artists.

• Mark Ruffalo shared this pic of Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston cuddling with Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi on a recent flight. #Grrrr

Living the dream, dreaming of living. #thorragnarok #sdcc2017

A post shared by Mark Ruffalo (@markruffalo) on Jul 22, 2017 at 1:57pm PDT

Trump On Jeff Sessions: "I Am Disappointed In The Attorney General"

During a press conference with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Donald Trump was asked whether he wants his Attorney General to resign.

He never got to a direct answer to that question, but he did say he was disappointed in Attorney General Jeff Sessions, wants him to be tougher, and wants him to be tougher on leaks coming out of the intelligence agencies.

Watch below.

Pres. Trump says AG Sessions recusing himself from Russia probe "is a bad thing, not for the president, but for the presidency." pic.twitter.com/SkYWH87ei2

— ABC News (@ABC) July 25, 2017

Trump says US intelligence agencies are “leaking like rarely have they ever leaked before” https://t.co/5j8eSlJjm3 https://t.co/MzQWOKa7o9

— CNN (@CNN) July 25, 2017

And, of course, there's this:

McConnell: Jeff Sessions "is doing a fine job and made the right decision to recuse himself from the Russia matter." https://t.co/QQsehygVLo

— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) July 25, 2017

Donald Trump Goes After "Very Weak" AG Jeff Sessions Again

Attorney General Jeff Sessions

Donald Trump continued his "Sessions obsession" by emasculating Attorney General Jeff Sessions in early morning tweets this morning, calling the AG "VERY weak:"

Ukrainian efforts to sabotage Trump campaign - "quietly working to boost Clinton." So where is the investigation A.G. @seanhannity

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2017

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has taken a VERY weak position on Hillary Clinton crimes (where are E-mails & DNC server) & Intel leakers!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2017

This comes just a day after he called Sessions "beleaguered" on Twitter while asking why more wasn't being done to look at Clinton's "crimes."

Of course, the FBI did an exhaustive investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails and concluded last year there was nothing there to prosecute.

Sessions was the first U.S. Senator to support Trump during the campaign and has been extremely loyal to the Trumpster. Trump's anger comes from Session recusing himself from any investigation into Russian meddling in the election. Trump told the New York Times last week he would have picked someone else if he'd known Sessions would recuse himself.

You can only imagine Trump expected Sessions to be a firewall between him and any investigations. #illegal

Radio host Hugh Hewitt asked Trump's new Communications Director, Anthony Scaramucci, if Trump wants Sessions out and Scaramucci responded, "You're probably right."

Listen below.

AUDIO: On the @hughhewitt show, new White House Communications Director @Scaramucci says Trump probably wants Sessions gone. Remarkable. pic.twitter.com/HxFDxo6gdh

— Yashar Ali (@yashar) July 25, 2017

President Trump Throws AG Jeff Sessions Under The Bus

In what can only be described as "stunning," President Trump told the New York Times that had he known Attorney General Jeff Sessions would recuse himself on all matters pertaining to Russia, he would have never fired him. Trump says the decision to recuse was "very unfair to the president."

In a remarkable public break with one of his earliest political supporters, Mr. Trump complained that Mr. Sessions’s decision ultimately led to the appointment of a special counsel that should not have happened. “Sessions should have never recused himself and if he was going to recuse himself he should have told me before he took the job and I would have picked somebody else,” Mr. Trump said.

In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times, the president also accused James B. Comey, the F.B.I. director he fired in May, of trying to leverage a dossier of compromising material to keep his job. Mr. Trump criticized both the acting F.B.I. director who has been filling in since Mr. Comey’s dismissal and the deputy attorney general who recommended it. And he took on Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel now leading the investigation into Russian meddling in last year’s election.

Trump also draws a red line in the sand saying Robert Mueller should not look into his family's financial records, again raising the question, "What's he hiding?"

It's interesting how much Trump bashes the NY Times but then sits down with them for these lengthy interviews. It's like he wants their approval so very badly.

Listen to the president below then head over to the New York Times for the wide-ranging interview.

The President today effectively asked Sessions for his resignation. Will he resign or insist on being fired? https://t.co/bShMQJtrBI

— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) July 20, 2017

Huge, if true. The president publicly attacked his Attorney General. How do you recover from that? https://t.co/rNbrt6XfAj

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) July 20, 2017

The sheer #thirst that the president has for the New York Times' approval is something to behold.

— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) July 20, 2017

Why would Trump care whether Sessions recused himself or not unless he wanted him to quash the investigation? Unbelievable thing to admit.

— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) July 20, 2017

Suspect threatens cop if he looks in the freezer chest in the basement. https://t.co/52buVy2OPV

— Schooley (@Rschooley) July 20, 2017

UPDATE - AG Sessions told reporters today, “We love this job. We love this department, and I plan to continue to do so as long as that is appropriate."

AG Sessions on POTUS' comments: "I have the honor of serving as attorney general…I plan to continue to do so as long as that's appropriate” pic.twitter.com/5HglGhsuBZ

— ABC News (@ABC) July 20, 2017

News Round-Up: June 29, 2017

(image from Nashville Pride via Instagram)

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Pride Month 2017 is winding down, but it's not over. World Pride this weekend in Madrid, Spain! #ColorMeJealous

• A new study shows 30% of lesbian couples still face rejection by wedding vendors. A huge majority of respondents said they’d be more likely to book a vendor that’s not only LGBT-friendly, but actively caters to the LGBTQ community. #MoneyTalks

• By a vote of 157-55, Serbian lawmakers have chosen 41-year-old out lesbian Ana Brnabic to become the nation’s first openly gay head of government.

• Former Fox News host Greta Van Susteren is now "former MSNBC host" as the political TV talker tweets she is "out at MSNBC." In a world of liberal anti-Trump fury, her nascent show never caught on. Ari Melber, the network’s chief legal correspondent, will take over the 6PM time slot.

I am out at MSNBC -

— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) June 29, 2017

• Speaking to federal prosecutors at a Justice Department hate crimes summit in Washington, D.C. today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he will "aggressively" prosecute anti-transgender crimes. “We have and will continue to enforce hate crime laws aggressively and appropriately where transgendered individuals are victims,” the attorney general said. #ColorMeShocked

• For a little #TBT action and out music, let's go back to this interview from my podcast with Tony Award winner Billy Porter regarding the release of his awesome album, Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers.

Hit the play button below to hear several tracks from the collection as well as Billy's inspiration for the project.