Jeff Sessions says he would recuse himself from Clinton investigations as attorney general over concerns about objectivity


Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that if he is confirmed as the attorney general, he would recuse himself from anything involving Hillary Clinton's emails or the Clinton Foundation.
"That's a bit of a shocker," The New York Times wrote, "and [Sen. Chuck] Grassley seems stunned." "You'll actually recuse?" Grassley further clarified after Sessions' statement, and Sessions confirmed.
The decision breaks with Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, who said Monday he would continue to pursue the investigation into Clinton's private email server. "Just because there was a political election doesn't mean it goes away, so of course I am going to continue to pursue that," Chaffetz said. President-elect Donald Trump also encouraged his campaign crowds to chant about "locking up" Clinton, although he backtracked after being elected, saying the former secretary of state had "been through enough."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"We cannot have a political dispute turn into a criminal dispute," Sessions told the Senate committee. "This country does not punish its political enemies." If Sessions were to recuse himself, Grassley noted that decisions regarding Clinton's emails and foundation would be made by a deputy, who has not yet formally been named; Attorney General Loretta Lynch, after being criticized for meeting with former President Bill Clinton during the FBI's ongoing investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails, said she would defer to the bureau's recommendation, but never officially recused herself from the case.
Watch Sessions' statement below. Jeva Lange
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
‘Peak consumption has become the Holy Grail of the energy debate’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Nadine Menendez gets 4.5 years in bribery case
Speed Read Menendez's husband was previously sentenced to 11 years in prison
-
Koreans detained in US Hyundai raid return home
Speed Read Over 300 Koreans were detained at the plant last week
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants