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Overview
U.S. Attorney General (2017-2018) and former Senator from Alabama who implemented some of the most controversial law enforcement policies in modern history. Championed the zero tolerance immigration prosecution policy that led to family separations, dramatically expanded civil asset forfeiture allowing police to seize property from people never charged with crimes, reversed Obama-era police reform consent decrees, rescinded the Cole Memo on marijuana enforcement, and was forced to recuse from the Russia investigation leading to his firing by President Trump.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Implemented zero tolerance immigration policy leading to separation of thousands of children from parents at the border
Dramatically expanded civil asset forfeiture; reversed Obama-era limits allowing police to seize property without criminal charges
Rescinded Obama-era consent decrees for police reform in cities like Baltimore, Chicago, and Ferguson
Rescinded Cole Memo on marijuana enforcement; threatened federal prosecution in states that legalized cannabis
Denied Senate confirmation as federal judge in 1986 after colleagues testified he made racist remarks
Recused from Russia investigation after undisclosed meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak
Fired by President Trump in November 2018 after Trump's repeated public attacks over the Russia recusal
As Senator, consistently opposed immigration reform, voting rights protections, and criminal justice reform
Related Investigations (13)
Civil Rights RollbacksCivil Rights
Tier 4
criticalCivil Asset ForfeitureCriminal Justice
Tier 2
criticalDOJ Politicization Under TrumpAbuse of Power
Tier 3
criticalDHS Human Rights ViolationsHuman Rights
Tier 2
criticalFamily Separation Policy: Zero Tolerance at the BorderHuman Rights Violations
Tier 3
criticalFamily Separation CrisisPolitical Accountability
Tier 2
criticalICE Detention AbusesCriminal Justice
Tier 2
criticalMass IncarcerationMilitary & Foreign Policy
Tier 1
criticalMuslim Ban & Religious PersecutionPolitical Accountability
Tier 2
criticalThe PATRIOT ActMilitary & Foreign Policy
Tier 2
criticalPolice MilitarizationMilitary & Foreign Policy
Tier 2
criticalPrivate Prison IndustryCriminal Justice
Tier 1
criticalSurveillance State ExpansionCivil Liberties
Tier 3
highCriminal Charges & Violations
2 documented violations
8 U.S.C. § 1232 - Family Separation PolicyAnnounced and implemented zero tolerance prosecution policy that deliberately separated thousands of children from parents with no reunification plan(human-rights)
18 U.S.C. § 981 - Expanded Civil Asset ForfeitureReinstated federal adoption of civil asset forfeiture allowing seizure of property from people never charged with crimes; DOJ IG found widespread abuse(constitutional)
Known Associates & Connections
Thomas Homan
ICE Acting Director who implemented Sessions' zero tolerance policy
Stephen Miller
Former Sessions Senate aide who became architect of Trump immigration policies
Donald Trump
President who appointed and later fired Sessions over Russia recusal
Sources & Documentation
3 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
DOJ OIG: Review of Family Separation Policy(2021)
DOJ: Attorney General Sessions Civil Forfeiture Policy(2017)
Senate Judiciary Committee: 1986 Sessions Confirmation Hearing(1986)
Personal Information
- Born
- 1946-12-24
- Birthplace
- Selma, Alabama
Education
- •B.A., Huntingdon College (1969)
- •J.D., University of Alabama School of Law (1973)
Key Timeline
1981
Appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama by President Reagan
1986
Denied federal judgeship by Senate after colleagues testify about racist remarks; historically rare rejection
1997
Elected to U.S. Senate from Alabama
2017-02-09
Confirmed as Attorney General in 52-47 vote
2017-03-02
Recuses from Russia investigation after undisclosed meetings with Russian ambassador revealed
2017-07
Reverses Obama-era civil asset forfeiture limits; expands Equitable Sharing Program
2018-01-04
Rescinds Cole Memo; threatens federal marijuana prosecution in legalized states
2018-04-06
Announces zero tolerance immigration prosecution policy at the border
2018-06
Family separation crisis explodes; thousands of children taken from parents
2018-11-07
Forced to resign as Attorney General by President Trump