President-elect Donald Trump’s spokesman called on Senate Democrats Tuesday to denounce “left-wing” protesters at the confirmation hearing for attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions.
Trump transition spokesman Sean Spicer also challenged journalists to press Democratic leaders about the protesters, suggesting that their failure to do so would reveal a double-standard by the media.
“It is somewhat sad to watch some of the folks on the left try to interrupt the democratic process,” Mr. Spicer told reporters during a regular conference call on the transition. “It’s one thing to have disagreements, it’s another thing to interrupt our process as we attempt to confirm the next attorney general.”
Saying that reporters regularly “peppered” Trump representatives during the presidential campaign with questions about his support from controversial figures, Mr. Spicer said the media should equally pressure Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and others to denounce the “left-wing tactics” by demonstrators at Mr. Sessions’ hearing.
“I would hope that every reporter on this line has the same diligence they pursued President-elect Trump’s association or non-association with random individuals as they do these tactics by the left to disrupt our democratic process,” Mr. Spicer said.
In what has become a familiar scene on Capitol Hill, several protesters from the group Code Pink and others disrupted the hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee during Mr. Sessions’ testimony Tuesday morning, shouting profanities and call him a “fascist.” Capitol police hauled them out of the hearing room while Mr. Sessions, Alabama Republican, paused in his testimony.
Mr. Spicer said the nominee will ensure equal justice under the law, and said he’s received “unbelievable support” from clergy, government officials, academics and business leaders.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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