WASHINGTON—The Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chuck Grassley, today announced that the hearing for Attorney General nominee, Senator Jeff Sessions, will be held on January 10-11, 2017.
Sessions returned the committee questionnaire today, and after speaking with incoming Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein, Grassley scheduled the hearings consistent with historical practice.
“I appreciate Senator Sessions’ prompt response. We will begin reviewing his questionnaire and going through the documents so we’re ready to hold a fair and thorough hearing on Jan. 10,” Grassley said. “We all know Senator Sessions to be an honorable man who has held public office for more than 20 years. I look forward to hearing from him next month.”
The hearings for the last four Attorneys General lasted one to two days with anywhere from three to nine outside witnesses testifying at each. The hearing for the nominee for Attorney General for every new president dating back to President Dwight Eisenhower has been held before the Presidential Inauguration, with the exception of President George H.W. Bush who retained President Ronald Reagan's Attorney General who had been confirmed five months earlier. Attorney General Eric Holder’s hearing was held the week prior to President Barack Obama’s inauguration, 31 days after the committee received his questionnaire. Sessions' hearing will occur 32 days after he returned his questionnaire, affording adequate time for committee members to prepare for the hearing.
Grassley sent the questionnaire to Sessions on November 22, four days after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate him. Sessions returned his questionnaire to the committee a week earlier than former Attorney General Holder, who returned his questionnaire to the Committee on December 15. The questionnaire and other documents will be available on the Judiciary Committee website.
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