Sessions Firing Shows Trump Demands Loyalty, Not Independence, from Attorney General

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement after the firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions:

“Attorney General Sessions led an unprecedented attack on the Constitution and our civil rights. From abandoning important police reform measures to advancing anti-immigrant measures to defending discrimination in voting, Sessions was as dangerous as we warned, and his legacy of bigotry must end with his resignation.

“Yet, today is not a day for celebration. Sessions’ forced resignation follows unprecedented intimidation from President Trump. The president’s blatant disregard for the independence of the country’s chief law enforcement officer undermines the rule of law in America. Sessions’ successor must show a commitment to upholding the Constitution and protecting civil and human rights. Congress must live up to its constitutional responsibility by serving as a check on an out-of-control president and ensuring that the next attorney general has the necessary independence for the job, including not interfering with the Special Counsel’s investigation.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.