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President-elect Joe Biden is still in the process of filling out his possible Cabinet, following a rollout of nominations and appointments over the past several weeks. With the position of DOJ attorney general yet to be formally announced by Biden, Democratic senators have now pushed for outgoing senator Doug Jones to fill the spot.
A letter co-signed by at least 14 Democratic senators to Biden and his transition team has pushed for Jones to be appointed to the position of the attorney general of the Justice Department. Senators Sherrod Brown, Bob Casey, Tim Kaine, Patrick Leahy, Joe Manchin, Jeff Merkley, Gary Peters, Jeanne Shaheen, Kyrsten Sinema, Jackie Rosen, Debbie Stabenow, Jon Tester, Mark Warner, and Ron Wyden sent the letter to Biden’s team shortly after the Christmas holidays, citing why the outgoing Alabama lawmaker would be the perfect choice for attorney general.
Jones is among the names being considered for the job. Former deputy attorney general Sally Yates, and federal appeals court judge and former Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland are the other names considered. Garland was ultimately the reported appointee for the post.
Jones and Biden have a long relationship stemming back from the president-elect’s days as Delaware Senator. Jones co-chaired Biden’s 1998 presidential bid as well and Biden was among those who campaigned for Jones in 2017. Jones also has the support of other Biden allies such as Congressman Jim Clyburn, who noted Jones’ role in prosecuting two members of the Ku Klux Klan that was behind the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.
Biden took to the podium from Wilmington, Delaware Wednesday to speak on the sudden rioting by Trump supporters at the Capitol prompted to halt the joint session and undermine the election. Lawmakers were forced to take cover as crowds of Trump supporters, some holding Confederate flags, occupied the chambers. The president-elect condemned the mob and urged Donald Trump to take control of the situation.
“At this hour, our democracy’s under unprecedented assault, unlike anything we’ve ever seen in modern times. An assault at the citadel of liberty, the Capitol itself,” said Biden. “This is not dissent, it’s disorder. It’s chaos. It borders on sedition and it must end now. I call on this mob to pull back and allow the work of democracy to go forward.”
