Jeff Sessions facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeff Sessions
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Official portrait, 2017
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| 84th United States Attorney General | |
| In office February 9, 2017 – November 7, 2018 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Loretta Lynch |
| Succeeded by | William Barr |
| United States Senator from Alabama |
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| In office January 3, 1997 – February 8, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Howell Heflin |
| Succeeded by | Luther Strange |
| 44th Attorney General of Alabama | |
| In office January 16, 1995 – January 3, 1997 |
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| Governor | Fob James |
| Preceded by | Jimmy Evans |
| Succeeded by | William H. Pryor Jr. |
| United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama | |
| In office February 1981 – March 23, 1993 |
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| President | |
| Preceded by | William Kimbrough |
| Succeeded by | Don Foster |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III
December 24, 1946 Selma, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Mary Blackshear
(m. 1969) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education |
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| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1973–1977 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit | 1184th United States Army Transportation Terminal Unit |
Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III (born December 24, 1946) is an American politician and lawyer. He served as the 84th United States attorney general from 2017 to 2018. Before that, he was a U.S. senator for Alabama from 1997 to 2017. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jeff Sessions was born in Selma, Alabama, on December 24, 1946. His full name, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III, was given to him, as his father and grandfather also had the same name. His father owned a store and later a farm equipment business.
In 1964, Jeff Sessions became an Eagle Scout. This is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. Later, he received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award for his many years of service.
After high school, Sessions went to Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama. He graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was very active in college, including being part of the Young Republicans and the marching band. He was also the student body president. Sessions then studied law at the University of Alabama School of Law and earned his law degree in 1973.
After finishing law school, Sessions worked as a private lawyer in Russellville and Mobile, Alabama. He also served in the Army Reserve in the 1970s, reaching the rank of captain.
Political Career
Jeff Sessions has had a long career in public service.
Serving as a U.S. Attorney
From 1981 to 1993, Sessions worked as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. A U.S. Attorney is a top lawyer for the federal government in a specific area. In this role, he represented the United States in legal cases.
Attorney General of Alabama
In 1994, Sessions was elected Attorney General of Alabama. As the state's Attorney General, he was the chief legal officer for the state. He advised the state government on legal matters and represented Alabama in court.
United States Senator
In 1996, Jeff Sessions was elected to the United States Senate. He represented Alabama in the Senate for 20 years, being re-elected in 2002, 2008, and 2014. As a senator, he helped create laws and represented the people of Alabama in the federal government. He was known for his generally conservative views during his time in the Senate.
During his time as a senator, he served on several important committees:
- Committee on Armed Services: This committee deals with military matters.
- Committee on the Budget: This committee works on the federal budget.
- Committee on Environment and Public Works: This committee focuses on environmental issues and public projects.
- Committee on the Judiciary: This committee handles laws, courts, and justice issues.
U.S. Attorney General (2017–2018)
Jeff Sessions was an early supporter of Donald Trump's presidential campaign in 2016. After Trump won, he nominated Sessions to be the United States attorney general. The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer and chief lawyer of the U.S. government. Sessions was confirmed and sworn into this role in February 2017.
During his confirmation hearings, Sessions was asked about contacts with Russian officials during the 2016 presidential campaign. News reports later showed he had met with the Russian ambassador twice in 2016. Because of this, Sessions decided to step aside from any investigations related to the 2016 U.S. elections.
As Attorney General, Sessions focused on enforcing federal laws. He emphasized strict immigration policies and worked to ensure cities followed federal immigration rules.
On November 7, 2018, Jeff Sessions resigned from his position as Attorney General at the request of President Trump. In 2020, he tried to win back his old Senate seat in Alabama but was not successful.
Political Views
During his time in the Senate, Jeff Sessions was known for his conservative political views.
Immigration Policies
Sessions was a strong opponent of both legal and illegal immigration policies that he believed would harm American workers. He voted against several bills that aimed to change immigration laws. He believed that allowing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants would weaken the rule of law. He also thought that a large number of guest workers and immigrants could lower wages and increase unemployment for U.S. citizens.
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Education and Research
In 2013, Sessions questioned why the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funded certain projects. He felt some projects were not important enough or seemed to favor one religion. He believed taxpayer money should be used wisely and fairly.
Healthcare
Sessions was involved in healthcare policy. In 2006, he helped create a law to increase funding for HIV/AIDS care in rural states like Alabama.
However, he opposed President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law, known as the Affordable Care Act. He voted against this law in 2009 and 2010. In 2013, he joined other senators in a vote that tried to stop funding for healthcare reform, but it did not pass.
Energy and Environment
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Jeff Sessions has different views on climate change than many scientists. He has voted for laws that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from controlling gases that affect the climate. He also supported opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling. Sessions is a supporter of using nuclear power.
Personal Life
Jeff Sessions is married to Mary Blackshear. They have three children and, as of 2020, ten grandchildren. The family attends a United Methodist church. Jeff Sessions has also taught Sunday school there.
Images for kids
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Sessions at a press event in Birmingham, Alabama on June 24, 2020
See also
In Spanish: Jeff Sessions para niños
