WASHINGTON - Sen. Jeff Sessions began the defense of his nomination for Donald Trump's attorney general by strongly refuting the racism allegations in his long career.
Sessions remained calm, and repeatedly spoke about the "painful" past allegations of racism that have been long defending his record.
"I abhor the Klan and what it represents and its hateful ideology," Sessions said, denying that he once supported the white supremacist group.
He also pledged to recuse himself from investigations involving Hillary Clinton based on the controversial comments he made during a heated campaign season. He asserted that he respects Supreme Court decision in allowing abortion and the more recent decision in allowing same-sex marriage even if he does not agree with them.
"The Supreme Court has ruled on that, the dissents dissented vigorously, but it was 5-4 and ... I will follow that decision," he said.
Sessions' hearings, which started Tuesday will continue till Wednesday. He is expected to be one of the most controversial amongst Trump's nominees.
At the first Senate hearings, Sessions projected himself as a strong protector of law and order as he outlined his priorities into the suitability of Trump's nominees.
He began emphasizing the importance of law enforcement and crime fighting and even cited that safety is a civil right. "It is a fundamental civil right to be safe in your home and your community," he said.
The event was interrupted before the hearing began, and the protestors continued to do so. They were ready to interrogate Sessions on the allegations of his past records condoning race and civil liberties, women's rights and prosecutorial conduct.
As Sessions walked in, two demonstrators dressed as members of the Ku Klux Klan were escorted out of the room. During his opening statement, a woman protesting with Code Pink was escorted out calling Sessions "evil". Another two protests were brought out during his opening, including a man calling Sessions "racist."
Despite the uproar, there is little likelihood that Sessions will not succeed in the nomination. Not only Republicans hold a majority in the Senate, no GOP senators have spoken out against the' nomination either. Democrats can only trip Sessions off by objectifying their case towards the American people who are set against Trump.
