Sen. Joe Manchin said that his fellow Senate Democrats are "playing politics" with the confirmation of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general.
"Am I the only one voting for Jeff?" he asked in an interview with the Washington Examiner.
The West Virginia Democrat said presidents should be allowed to put together the team they want, as long as they pass background checks and financial disclosures.
"Whether you know them or like them or not, if they are clean, they have no background to where it would be detrimental to the job they are going to do, give them a chance and see if they are going to work. And that's what I would recommend to my own colleagues — quit playing politics with it," Manchin said.
While Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have questioned Sessions' history with voting rights and civil rights, Manchin said he had seen no evidence to suggest Sessions was racist.
"I believe simply this: What I know of Jeff Sessions is that he's a good man. I've known him for six years. I've never seen any indication of any bigotry or any type of racism. If there would have been, I wouldn't vote for him," Manchin added.
Manchin is the only Democrat to publicly express support for Sessions. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., told the Examiner she is meeting with Sessions and would announce her decision about his nomination after that.
Sen. Jon Tester said he had not yet decided.
The Senate will vote Jan. 24 on the Sessions nomination. The Examiner notes Sessions is likely to gain approval, since Senate Republicans are planning to vote as a bloc in committee and in a floor vote.
The Baltimore Sun on Wednesday reported that Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and five other state attorneys general urged the Senate to reject Sessions' nomination.
"I didn't want to look back on this moment 10 years from now and say I did not raise my voice when his name was put in for nomination," Frosh said.
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