Updates | The Week of July 17, 2017
Britany Riley // 7/23/17 //
In a recent speech to the National District Attorneys Association, Attorney General Sessions said that the United States is facing “a multi-front battle” involving violent crime and the opioid epidemic. (Sentencing Law & Policy).
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has published an op-ed defending the Department of Justice’s new policy instructing federal prosecutors to seek the most serious possible charges in all cases (SF Chronicle).
Sessions released new guidance expanding federal asset forfeiture programs (AP, The Hill, WaPo).
- The new guidance is here.
- The Attorney General’s order is here.
- The DOJ press release is here.
- Kanya Bennett (ACLU) objects to the new policy as unjust.
Senator Kamala Harris publicly criticized Session’s tough on crime approach (The Hill).
Congresswoman Maxine Waters called for the recusal of Sessions from the DOJ investigation into Deutsche Bank (The Hill).
Despite sharp criticism from President Trump regarding his decision to recuse himself from investigations in Russian interference in the election, Sessions plans to remain in his position (NYT, WaPo).
- The Attorney General should resign in the face the President’s blatant disregard for federal law enforcement, argues Benjamin Wittes at Lawfare.
- Jack Goldsmith disagrees at Lawfare.
Protecting an FBI Director from firing without good cause has merit, argues Andrew Kent at Lawfare.