Alabama AG Strange appointed to Sessions’ former U.S. Senate seat

Alabama AG Strange appointed to Sessions’ former U.S. Senate seat

MONTGOMERY (Jennifer Davis Rash) — Alabama’s Jeff Sessions will be sworn in as U.S. Attorney General this morning (Feb. 9) and Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange will step right into the Sessions’ vacant U.S. Senate seat.

Gov. Robert Bentley announced his appointment of Strange to the seat last night (Feb. 8) and publicly presented him this morning at 9:10 a.m. Bentley and Strange are headed to Washington this morning so Strange can be sworn in today.

Strange also announced that Alice Martin, a former U.S. attorney, will serve as acting attorney general for Alabama until a new attorney general is appointed. Martin is the first woman to hold this position.

Strange, who has been attorney general since 2011, said, “I am greatly honored and humbled to accept the appointment to Alabama’s Senate seat vacated by Senator Jeff Sessions,” according to a news release from the governor’s office.

“Senator Sessions’ commitment to public service is nearly unparalleled in Alabama history and his departure from the Senate leaves tremendous shoes to fill. I pledge to the people of Alabama to continue the same level of leadership as Jeff Sessions in consistently fighting to protect and advance the conservative values we all care about.”

Bentley said, “Alabama has surely been well represented by Senator Sessions, and I am confident Senator Strange will serve as a fine representative for our people. His leadership on a national level, service as a statewide elected official and long record of taking on tough federal issues are the very qualities that will make him a strong conservative senator for Alabama.”

Strange was among six finalists for the position and will serve until the special election for the seat takes place in 2018.

In a news release from his office, Strange added, “Personally it is a bittersweet decision to accept this Senate appointment as I say goodbye to the Alabama attorney general’s office. The employees of the attorney general’s office are among the finest in state government and I am proud of our many accomplishments following the rule of law and ensuring accountability to the public trust.

“We secured $1 billion for Alabama from the historic BP-Deepwater Horizon settlement, the largest environmental damages settlement in Alabama history. We successfully kept public official accountable to the rule of law. We have protected our Second Amendment and supported the protection of innocent life. We have stood up to Washington and EPA’s job killing policies to protect Alabama jobs and businesses and we’ve stopped government’s unlawful overreach and the abuse of political power by federal bureaucrats.

“I leave office with confidence that the governor will appoint a new attorney general who will maintain the same commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting Alabama as I have done during my time as your attorney general.”