Hours before Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton squared off in the second presidential debate, Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions was appearing in a flurry of national interviews to help create anticipation of a Trump win.
As one of the Republican candidate’s top advisors and greatest allies on Capitol Hill, his forceful support comes at a key time. On Friday, leaked audio of Trump making lewd comments sparked controversy throughout the media. As a result, several GOP lawmakers- including Alabama Representatives Martha Roby and Bradley Byrne- withdrew endorsements from their party’s nominee.
Sen. Sessions said he believes Trump would rebound from the ordeal, pointing to Bill Clinton’s sordid past.
“I don’t know if his flaws in this video are the kinds of things that will change peoples’ minds,” Sessions said in an interview with CBS News. “The Democrats remained loyal to Bill Clinton in the face of much more serious charges.”
That didn’t amount to a full defense of the controversial statements, but rather an assertion that voters would reject Hillary Clinton’s political spin.
“Nobody’s character is perfect. This is a wrong thing. I do not like this kind of talk, I don’t think that most Americans do. But he operates in a world of media and beauty pageants and that kind of thing,” Sessions said. “So I would just say to you, the people are more concerned about Hillary Clinton admitting and acknowledging in a private speech, speaking to millionaire bankers that, ‘I tell you the truth, but I tell the American people something different.’”
Sen. Sessions said that he would urge his fellow lawmakers to “slow down” before withdrawing their support of Trump.
“How much more could you say about this? You have to make up your mind. Is this disqualifying- this tape recording of statements from eleven years ago?” Sessions said. “The American people will decide this election. I don’t think the politicians’ endorsements will make the difference.”
“I would urge my colleagues to take a deep breath,” he added.
