In his forthcoming book, “Breaking History: A White House Memoir,” Kushner details several efforts by Sessions to thwart his efforts to assemble an unlikely coalition of conservative and liberal lawmakers — and to dissuade then-President Donald Trump from support them.
In one instance, Kushner writes that Sessions’ team at the Justice Department successfully thwarted an April 2018 committee markup on legislation by recommending last-minute changes to legislation that amounted to “poison pills.” and which Kushner then described as “ridiculous”. and “bad faith.” Sessions’ bickering with Kushner over the reform effort and his numerous attempts to block the process were widely reported at the time.
Through an associate, Sessions declined to comment on Kushner’s book.
Amid Sessions’ efforts to block the legislation and try to dissuade conservatives from supporting it, Kushner met with the attorney general and other Justice Department officials to address their concerns.
“Finally, Sessions turned to me and in his southern drawl said, ‘Jared, it’s very simple. If the boy commits the crime, you have to lock him up. That’s exactly where he was,” Kushner wrote, according to an excerpt obtained by CNN. hard.”
Sessions also sought to persuade Trump to oppose the legislation in several Oval Office meetings, falsely warning Trump that the measure could make him responsible for freeing violent criminals: “You don’t want to be responsible for the Willie Horton’s next situation, do you?”
As Kushner describes his work across the aisle with a slew of Democrats who ultimately helped pass the First Step Act, he notes that “a few refused to meet, including California Senator Kamala Harris.” , who is now vice-president. Harris would continue to vote in favor of the bill.
This story has been updated.
Cnn All