|
Sessions, 72, a frequent target of Trump's anger over his
decision to recuse himself from the Russia probe, will be trying
to reclaim a seat he resigned to join the Trump administration.
His decision to enter the race was first reported by the
Associated Press.
Sessions enters a crowded field seeking the Republican
nomination to face Democratic Senator Doug Jones in the November
2020 election in a Southern state considered reliably
Republican.
Sessions held the seat from 1997 to 2017.
Sessions "wants to get back in the game," and U.S. Senator
Richard Shelby of Alabama will help him raise money, said the
Republican source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The source said Sessions was the Republican Party's best chance
for a Senate pickup in next year's election, but it was unclear
how Trump would react to the development.
Trump has called his selection of Sessions as attorney general
"the biggest mistake" of his presidency.
Sessions was an early and loyal supporter of Trump. But after
being publicly ridiculed by the president, Sessions was ousted
on Nov. 7, 2018. He was replaced briefly by Matthew Whitaker
until William Barr was confirmed to the job in February.
Sessions' decision to recuse himself from the federal
investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S.
presidential election paved the way for the appointment of
Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Trump has denounced the Mueller
probe as a "witch hunt."
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by
Peter Cooney)
[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
