Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions is defending his integrity and recusal from the Justice Department’s Russia investigation amid a loss to political newcomer Tommy Tuberville in the Alabama Republican Senate primary runoff election.
Speaking to supporters on Tuesday, Sessions said he leaves “office with my integrity intact.”
Sessions expressed his appreciation for the people of Alabama and doubled down on his recusal.
“I leave with no regrets. I was honored to serve the people of Alabama in the Senate and I was extraordinarily proud of the accomplishments we had as attorney general. On recusal, I followed the law,” Sessions said to supporters.
He added, “I did the right thing, and I saved the president’s bacon in the process. Any other action to try to squelch an investigation in that environment would not have worked, it would have really been a catastrophe, and I’m so glad it finally ended after a prolonged time and the president has been cleared.”
Sessions reiterated he believes he made the right decision.
“I feel good about it. I hold my head high. I took the road less traveled. I didn’t try to excuse myself or get in a fight or undermine the leader of our country and the great work he has to do. That was an honorable path, I believe,” he said.
Tuberville, 65, a former football coach, had 60.7 percent to Session’s 39.3 percent, with 94 percent of precincts reporting, as IJR previously reported.
Trump took to Twitter on Tuesday to congratulate Tuberville.
“Wow, just called! [Tommy Tuberville] – Tommy Tuberville WON big against Jeff Sessions. Will be a GREAT Senator for the incredible people of Alabama,” Trump said.
He added, “[Doug Jones] is a terrible Senator who is just a Super Liberal puppet for Schumer and Pelosi. Represents Alabama poorly. On to November 3rd.”
Wow, just called! @TTuberville – Tommy Tuberville WON big against Jeff Sessions. Will be a GREAT Senator for the incredible people of Alabama. @DougJones is a terrible Senator who is just a Super Liberal puppet for Schumer & Pelosi. Represents Alabama poorly. On to November 3rd.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2020
Sessions also issued a series of tweets on Tuesday expressing his appreciation for the residents of Alabama.
“We fought a good fight and the people of Alabama have spoken. So many people have helped me in this campaign and over the years, they love this state and I love them,” Sessions said.
We fought a good fight and the people of Alabama have spoken. So many people have helped me in this campaign and over the years, they love this state and I love them.
— Jeff Sessions (@jeffsessions) July 15, 2020
During an interview on Fox News on Monday, Sessions said he still supports Trump and his agenda even though the president endorsed his opponent, as IJR previously reported.
