Pete Sessions#2012 election

Pete Sessions was born in Waco, Texas, on March 22, 1955, to Alice June Lewis and William S. Sessions, who served as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He attended Winston Churchill High School and graduated from Southwestern University in 1978. He worked at Southwestern Bell for sixteen years and rose to become a district manager for marketing in Dallas.{{Cite news |title=About |work=Pete Sessions |url=https://sessions.house.gov/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812175723/https://sessions.house.gov/about |archive-date=August 12, 2024}}{{Cite news |title=Pete Sessions - Bio |work=United States Congress |url=https://www.congress.gov/115/meeting/house/105558/witnesses/HHRG-115-HA00-Bio-SessionsP-20170215.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812180010/https://www.congress.gov/115/meeting/house/105558/witnesses/HHRG-115-HA00-Bio-SessionsP-20170215.pdf |archive-date=August 12, 2024}} The Boy Scouts of America recognized Sessions as a "Distinguished Eagle Scout." He holds a position on the Circle Ten Council of the BSA. His two sons are also active in scouting.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2008/09/pols-discuss-raising-special-needs-kids-013520 |title=Pols discuss raising special-needs kids|last=Lovley|first=Erika|date=2008-09-17|publisher=Politico|access-date=2009-04-26}}

In 1991, Sessions finished sixth in a special election for the House of Representatives. In 1993, he left his job with Southwestern Bell to again run for Congress, against 5th District incumbent Democratic representative John Bryant. He toured the district with a livestock trailer full of horse manure, claiming that the Clinton Administration's health care plan stank more than the manure.{{cite book |title=2014 Almanac of American Politics |last2=Barone |first2=Chuck |last1=McCutcheon|first1=Michael |publisher=The University of Chicago Press |year= 2013 |isbn=9780226105444 }} He lost by 2,400 votes. He subsequently became vice president for public policy at the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), a Dallas-based conservative public policy research institute.

File:Representative Pete Sessions in 1998.jpg

In 1996, when Bryant ran for a Senate seat, Sessions was elected to succeed him in the 5th District, defeating Democratic nominee John Pouland with 47% of the vote. He was reelected in 1998, defeating schoolteacher Victor Morales with 56% of the vote. In 2000, he defeated Regina Montoya Coggins with 54% of the vote. When redistricting after the 2000 census made the 5th slightly more Democratic, he moved to the newly created 32nd District, in which he ran in the 2002 election and defeated Pauline Dixon with 68% of the vote.

In 2004, Sessions defeated 13-term Democratic incumbent Martin Frost, who had moved to the 32nd after redistricting in 2003 eliminated Frost's former district. Sessions won 54–44% in what was considered the most expensive U.S. House race in the nation. According to the Associated Press, "The race also was one of the nastiest, with Frost unearthing a decades-old streaking incident by Sessions in his college days and questioning his commitment to security with an ad featuring the World Trade Center towers in flames. In response, he criticized Frost for booking Peter Yarrow of the 1960s group Peter, Paul and Mary for a fundraiser. Yarrow had faced an indecency with a child charge years earlier."

In 2010, Sessions faced Dallas businessman and attorney Grier Raggio and Libertarian John Jay Myers. The election was initially considered one of the top dark-horse battles in the country, but Sessions was reelected.{{cite web|last=Blake |first=Aaron |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/45468-dark-horse-races-to-watch-in-2010/ |title=Dark horse races to watch in 2010 |work=The Hill |date=2009-07-06 |access-date=2010-08-29}} In 2012, he faced Democratic candidate Katherine Savers McGovern and independent candidate Seth Hollis. Sessions was endorsed by the Dallas Morning News and was reelected. In the 2014 Republican primary, Sessions defeated conservative Katrina Pierson, an African American aligned with the Tea Party movement, polling 28,954 votes (63.6%) to her 16,560 (36.4%).{{cite web|url=https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/mar04_169_state.htm?x=0&y=218&id=176|title=Republican primary election returns, March 4, 2014|publisher=enr.sos.state.tx.us|access-date=March 5, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140305180619/https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/mar04_169_state.htm?x=0&y=218&id=176|archive-date=March 5, 2014}}{{cite news |last=Tinsley |first=Anna M. |date=December 14, 2015 |title=Trump's Outspoken Texas Spokeswoman Likely Will Be Around for Awhile |newspaper=McClatchy DC |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article49653400.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312011447/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article49653400.html |archive-date=March 12, 2016}} Pierson, originally allied with U.S. senator Ted Cruz, later joined Donald Trump's presidential campaign staff.

In 2016, Sessions polled 49,632 votes (61.4%) to gain renomination in the Republican primary, which had a much greater turnout than in 2014. The runner-up, Russ K. Ramsland of Dallas, received 19,105 votes (23.6%). Paul M. Brown of Richardson received 9,488 (11.7%), and Cherie Myint Roughneen received 2,601 (3.2%).{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar01_273_state.htm?x=0&y=4540&id=516 |title=Republican primary returns |date=March 1, 2016 |publisher=Texas Secretary of State |access-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306144151/https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar01_273_state.htm?x=0&y=4540&id=516 |archive-date=March 6, 2016 }}

Sessions lost his bid for reelection in 2018 to Democrat Colin Allred, a lawyer and former professional (NFL) football player.

{{See also|2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas#District 17}}

In October 2019, Sessions announced his candidacy for the 2020 election in Texas's 17th congressional district. While the 17th is about {{convert|100|mi|km}} from his former district, it is based in his boyhood home in Waco. Sessions sold his home in Dallas and bought a home in Waco soon after announcing his candidacy. Sessions's bid received a chilly reception from some Republicans in the district, including the retiring five-term incumbent, Bill Flores.{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/a42b69fcfaaa4ed1b54f3db96fb2ed00 |title=Former lawmaker's planned congressional comeback clouded |first1=Paul J. |last1=Weber |first2=Will |last2=Weissert |date=October 12, 2019 |work=Associated Press |access-date=October 26, 2019 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/congress/rep-pete-sessions-met-indicted-guiliani-associates-accepted-donations |title=Former Rep. Pete Sessions met with indicted Giuliani associates, accepted donations |first=Katherine |last=Tully-McManus |date=October 10, 2019 |access-date=October 26, 2019 |work=Roll Call }} Despite this, Sessions led the field in a crowded 12-way Republican primary–the real contest in this heavily Republican district. He then defeated healthcare executive Renee Swann in a runoff, securing the Republican nomination and all but assuring his return to Congress.

{{expand section|date=March 2021}}

Through August 2017, Sessions voted with his party in 98.8% of votes in the 115th session of Congress and voted in line with President Trump's position in 97.5% of votes.{{Cite news|last=Bycoffe|first=Aaron|date=2017-01-30|title=Tracking Pete Sessions In The Age Of Trump|work=FiveThirtyEight|url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/pete-sessions/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404131908/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/pete-sessions/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 4, 2017|access-date=August 30, 2017}}{{Cite news|last=Willis|first=Derek|title=Represent|language=en|work=ProPublica|url=https://projects.propublica.org/represent/members/S000250-pete-sessions|access-date=August 30, 2017}}

In November 1997, Sessions was one of 18 House Republicans to co-sponsor a resolution by Bob Barr that sought to launch an impeachment inquiry against President Bill Clinton.{{cite web |last1=Pace |first1=David |title=17 in House seek probe to impeach president |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/498562556 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Record | agency=Associated Press |access-date=4 March 2021 |language=en |date=6 Nov 1997 |url-access=subscription }} The resolution did not specify any charges or allegations.{{cite web |last1=Hutcheson |first1=Ron |title=Some House Republicans can't wait for elections |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197738955 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Asheville Citizen-Times |agency= Knight-Rider Newspapers |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=17 Nov 1997}} This was an early effort to impeach Clinton, predating the eruption of the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal. That scandal led to a more serious effort to impeach Clinton in 1998.{{cite web |last1=Barkham |first1=Patrick |title=Clinton impeachment timeline |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1998/nov/18/clinton.usa |website=The Guardian |access-date=6 March 2021 |language=en |date=18 November 1998}} On October 8, 1998, Sessions voted for legislation to open an impeachment inquiry.{{cite web |title=Roll Call 498 Roll Call 498, Bill Number: H. Res. 581, 105th Congress, 2nd Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/1998498 |website=clerk.house.gov |publisher=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=1 March 2021 |language=en |date=8 October 1998}} On December 19, 1998, he voted in favor of all four proposed articles of impeachment against Clinton (only two of which received the majority of votes needed to be adopted).{{cite web |title=Roll Call 546 Roll Call 546, Bill Number: H. Res. 611, 105th Congress, 2nd Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/1998546 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=6 March 2021 |language=en |date=19 December 1998}}{{cite web |title=Roll Call 545 Roll Call 545, Bill Number: H. Res. 611, 105th Congress, 2nd Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/1998545 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=6 March 2021 |language=en |date=19 December 1998}}{{cite web |title=Roll Call 544 Roll Call 544, Bill Number: H. Res. 611, 105th Congress, 2nd Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/1998544 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=6 March 2021 |language=en |date=19 December 1998}}{{cite web |last1=Washington |first1=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |last2=p:225-7000 |first2=DC 20515-6601 |title=Roll Call 543 Roll Call 543, Bill Number: H. Res. 611, 105th Congress, 2nd Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/1998543 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=6 March 2021 |language=en |date=19 December 1998}}

Sessions voted against the second impeachment of Donald Trump after the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol.{{cite web |last1=Washington |first1=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |title=Roll Call 17, Bill Number: H. Res. 24, 117th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202117 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=January 13, 2021 |date=January 13, 2021 |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113221030/https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202117 |url-status=live }} He also was among 147 congressional Republicans who voted to overturn the 2020 election results.{{Cite news |last1=Yourish |first1=Karen |last2=Buchanan |first2=Larry |last3=Lu |first3=Denise |date=2021-01-07 |title=The 147 Republicans Who Voted to Overturn Election Results |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/07/us/elections/electoral-college-biden-objectors.html |access-date=2023-10-22 |issn=0362-4331}}

In October 2021, Business Insider reported that Sessions had violated the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012, a federal transparency and conflict-of-interest law, by failing to properly disclose the purchase of stock in Amazon.{{Cite web |last1=Leonard |first1=Kimberly |last2=Rojas |first2=Warren |last3=Levinthal |first3=Dave |date=2021-10-21 |title=Rep. Mo Brooks is one of Congress' most vocal opponents of COVID-19 vaccine mandates — and he just violated a federal conflict-of-interest law on a Pfizer stock sale |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mo-brooks-vaccine-mandate-pfizer-stock-sale-congress-senate-alabama-2021-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306045605/https://www.businessinsider.com/mo-brooks-vaccine-mandate-pfizer-stock-sale-congress-senate-alabama-2021-10 |archive-date=2023-03-06 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} Sessions again violated the STOCK Act when, in February 2022, he was late in reporting seven stock trades that he had made during 2021 worth between $7,001 and $105,000.{{Cite web |last=Leonard |first=Kimberly |date=2022-03-03 |title=Republican Rep. Pete Sessions opposes a congressional stock trade ban. His own trades appear to violate a federal conflicts-of-interest law, new documents show. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/pete-sessions-texas-congress-stock-trade-ban-2022-3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205060010/https://www.businessinsider.com/pete-sessions-texas-congress-stock-trade-ban-2022-3 |archive-date=2024-02-05 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}

Sessions unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for the October 2023 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election.{{Cite news |date=October 23, 2023 |title=Here's Democratic Delegates |work=The Texas Tribune |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/23/house-speaker-race-pete-sessions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812180735/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/23/house-speaker-race-pete-sessions/ |archive-date=August 12, 2024}}

In the 2010 election, while he was chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the party gained control of the House with a net gain of 63 seats and 89 new freshman members.{{cite news |last=Parkinson |first=John R. |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pete-sessions-running-majority-whip-seeks-reelection-nrcc/story?id=12082535 |title=Exclusive: Sessions Not Running for Majority Whip, Seeks Reelection at NRCC |work=ABC News |date=November 8, 2010 |access-date=October 24, 2013 }}

In 2014, Sessions was originally a candidate for the post of House majority leader, to replace Eric Cantor,{{cite news |first1=Evan |last1=Halper |first2=Richard |last2=Simon |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-house-leadership-20140612-story.html |title=Race for Eric Cantor's House post may be between Californian, Texan |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 11, 2014 |access-date=12 October 2019 }} but withdrew from the internal House Republican Conference election, leaving the field clear for Kevin McCarthy of California.{{cite news |first1=Lisa |last1=Mascaro |first2=Michael A. |last2=Memoli |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-sessions-drops-out-of-race-for-gop-leadership-clears-way-for-californias-mccarthy-20140612-story.html |title=Sessions drops out of GOP leadership race, clearing way for McCarthy |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 12, 2014 }}{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Fuller |url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/home/petesessions-drops-out-of-majority-leader-race |title=Pete Sessions Drops Out of Majority Leader Race, Clearing Way for Kevin McCarthy (Updated)] |work=Roll Call |date=June 12, 2017 }}

117th Congress:

• Committee on Financial Services
• Committee on Oversight and Reform

Formerly: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

113th-115th Congress:

• House Committee on Rules, chair

In 2012, Sessions was named chair of the House Rules Committee for the 113th Congress by Speaker of the House John Boehner. He retained his chairmanship into the 115th Congress.

• Subcommittee on Rules and the Organization of the House

• National Republican Congressional Committee, former chairman
• Results Caucus
• Malaysia Trade, Security and Economic Cooperation Caucus
• Republican Study Committee{{cite web|title=Member List|url=https://rsc-walker.house.gov/|publisher=Republican Study Committee|access-date=2 January 2018|archive-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101195017/https://rsc-walker.house.gov/|url-status=dead}}
• Congressional Hispanic Conference
• Tea Party Caucus
• Congressional Cement Caucus
• Congressional Western Caucus{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://westerncaucus.house.gov/about/membership.htm|publisher=Congressional Western Caucus|access-date=18 July 2018}}
• Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans{{cite web|title=Members of the Caucus on U.S. - Türkiye Relations & Turkish Americans|author=|url=https://www.tc-america.org/in-congress/caucus.htm|format=|publisher=Turkish Coalition of America|date=|accessdate=27 March 2025}}

In 2017, Sessions, as chair of the House Rules Committee, stalled a bill imposing additional sanctions against Russia and Iran from moving to the floor, saying that some parts of the bill, which passed the Senate on a 98–2 vote, could create "huge problems to companies in Dallas, Texas, that I represent" and place them at a competitive disadvantage.{{cite news |first1=Deirdre |last1=Walsh |first2=Jeremy |last2=Herb |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/29/politics/russia-sanctions-bill-senate/index.html |title=Russia sanctions bill still stuck in Congress before Trump-Putin meeting |work=CNN |date=June 29, 2017}}

In July 2018, Sessions argued that it was unnecessary to increase federal funding for election security.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/house-gop-refuses-to-renew-election-security-funding-as-democrats-fume-over-russian-meddling/2018/07/18/20761f88-8abb-11e8-8aea-86e88ae760d8_story.html |date=July 19, 2018 |first=Erica |last=Werner |title=House GOP refuses to renew election security funding as Democrats fume over Russian interference |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2018-07-19}} The U.S. intelligence community had concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election and that it was continuing to interfere in election systems as of July 2018.

Sessions and Rudy Giuliani were involved in back-channel talks attempting to persuade Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to leave office in 2018. The effort was backed in part by private interests. The negotiations were opposed by White House officials including then-National Security Adviser John Bolton, The Washington Post reported.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-lawyer-and-the-venezuelan-president-how-giuliani-got-involved-in-back-channel-talks-with-maduro/2019/12/29/289dc6aa-235f-11ea-86f3-3b5019d451db_story.html |title=Trump's lawyer and the Venezuelan president: How Giuliani got involved in back-channel talks with Maduro |last1=Helderman |first1=Rosalind S. |last2=Hamburger |first2=Tom |date=December 30, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en |access-date=2019-12-30}}

In late 2001 and early 2002, Sessions cosigned letters to two Cabinet members asking them to shut down casinos operated by several Native American tribes. Within 18 months of sending the letters, he received a total of $20,500 from tribes associated with Jack Abramoff. In response to criticism, his office said that he wrote the letters because he believed that gambling is a local issue, falling under his long-held support for federalism.{{Cite news | last=Gillman | first=Todd J. | title=Sessions, others in casino crusade got tribal cash | newspaper=The Dallas Morning News | date=2006-01-06 |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/stories/DN-casinomoney_06nat.ART.State.Edition2.1da84a95.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528090738/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/stories/DN-casinomoney_06nat.ART.State.Edition2.1da84a95.html | archive-date=May 28, 2009 | access-date=November 10, 2008 | url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://lonestarproject.net/2006/04/24/pete-sessions-subject-of-doj-bribery-investigation-request/ |title=Pete Sessions Subject of DOJ Bribery Investigation Request |date=April 24, 2006 |website=lonestarproject.net |access-date=October 12, 2019}}

In 2008, Sessions added a $1.6 million earmark for dirigible research to an appropriations bill. The earmark benefited a Chicago company, Jim G. Ferguson & Associates, that had no experience in government contracting or dirigible research. Former Sessions aide and convicted felon Adrian Plesha was a lobbyist for the firm.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/07/exclusive-earmark-critic-steered-cash-to-blimp-research-025599 |title=Pete Sessions's blimp flies into storm |date=2009-07-30 |first= John |last=Bresnahan|publisher=Politico |access-date=2010-08-29}}{{cite web|last=Kuffner |first=Charles |url=http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=12587 |title=CREW goes after Sessions |publisher=Off the Kuff |date=2006-04-19 |access-date=2010-08-29}} In September, Plesha sued Jim G. Ferguson & Associates for non-payment of fees and expenses connected with his lobbying effort on their behalf.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/09/lobbyist-sues-in-wake-of-blimp-pork-026644 |title=Lobbyist sues in wake of blimp pork |first=John |last=Bresnahan |publisher=Politico |date=2009-09-01 |access-date=2010-08-29}}

In 2022, Sessions was one of 39 Republicans to vote for the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/29/house-passes-antitrust-bill-raising-ma-fees.html | title=House passes antitrust bill that hikes M&A fees as larger efforts targeting tech have stalled | website=CNBC | date=September 29, 2022 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/117-2022/h460 | title=H.R. 3843: Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022 -- House Vote #460 -- Sep 29, 2022 }}

Sessions was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4029522-republicans-and-democrats-who-bucked-party-leaders-by-voting-no/|title=Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no|first=Jared|last=Gans|date=May 31, 2023|access-date=June 6, 2023|work=The Hill}}

In March 2016, Sessions introduced a House resolution to "recognize magic as a rare and valuable art form and national treasure."{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-resolution/642|title=Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form and national treasure|work=114th Congress (2015-2016)|publisher= Library of Congress|date=14 March 2016|access-date=16 November 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/06/10/481558716/david-copperfield-wants-congress-to-believe-in-magic|title=David Copperfield Wants Congress To Believe In Magic|first=Susan|last=Davis|work=All Things Considered|publisher=NPR|date=10 June 2016|access-date=16 November 2017}}

In 2024, Sessions called THC “addictive” and “dangerous to the health and growth of every American.”{{cite web | url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V4z2vziDJjw | title=The Detrimental Cost of High-Potency THC Products–Randy's Resolution | website=YouTube | date=April 8, 2024 }}

Sessions opposed allowing states to determine their own policies regarding the legality of cannabis and the regulation of legal cannabis markets. As chair of the House Rules Committee, he repeatedly stifled proposed amendments relaxing federal laws against cannabis, including one that would have allowed medical marijuana access to veterans in states where the drug is legal.{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/03/21/washingtons-most-powerful-anti-pot-official-is-named-sessions-its-not-who-you-think-217662 |work=Politico |date=March 21, 2018 |title=Washington's Most Powerful Anti-Pot Official Is Named Sessions. It's Not Who You Think. |access-date=April 3, 2018 |first=James |last=Higdon}} VSOs such as the DAV are active lobbyists for cannabis.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qgdigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=795007&p=7&view=issueViewer&pp=1|title=DAV Magazine July/August 2023 Page 5|website=www.qgdigitalpublishing.com}}

Sessions supported the 1033 program, under which the U.S. military transfers surplus military equipment to local law enforcement agencies; the program is controversial because of its association with militarization of police. In 2015 and 2017, he cosponsored Republican legislation to reverse the Obama administration's restrictions on the 1033 program.{{cite news |first1=Kevin |last1=Krause |first2=Caroline |last2=Kelly |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2017/08/28/trump-allows-local-police-to-stock-up-on-high-powered-military-vehicles-and-gear/ |title=Trump allows local police to stock up on high-powered military vehicles and gear |work=Dallas News |date=August 28, 2017 }}

In 2012, Sessions voted against disaster relief for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/348335-lawmakers-vow-harvey-aid-package-but-theres-no-plan-yet/ |title=Lawmakers vow Harvey aid package, but there's no plan yet|last=Swanson|first=Ian|date=2017-08-28|work=The Hill|access-date=2017-08-30}} In August 2017, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, which devastated parts of Texas, he called for disaster relief for its victims.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hurricane-harvey-texas-republicans-sandy-hypocrisy_n_59a46fcce4b041393a1fc43a |title=Hurricane Harvey And The Potential Hypocrisy Of Texas Republicans|last1=Fuller|first1=Matt|date=2017-08-28|work=HuffPost|access-date=2017-08-30|last2=Subberwal|first2=Kaeli}}

In 2016, Sessions criticized the independent, nonpartisan Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), calling it "a political witch hunt" and "an outside process that's very controversial, is not working well and is highly unpopular because of its original mandate and jurisdiction is hugely flawed."{{cite news |first=Rema |last=Rahman |url=https://www.rollcall.com/policy/congressman-takes-aim-ethics-agency |title=Congressman Takes Aim at Ethics Agency |work=Roll Call |date=June 9, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2019 }} In 2017, he publicly defended a House Republican plan to dismantle the OCE; the plan was abandoned after a public uproar.{{cite news |first1=Cameron |last1=Joseph |first2=Adam |last2=Edelman |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/trump-calls-house-republicans-dismantling-ethics-watchdog-article-1.2932904 |title=House Republicans cancel plan to dismantle ethics watchdog after backlash, opposition from Trump |work=New York Daily News |date=January 3, 2017 }} Sessions is opposed to banning members of Congress from trading stocks.

In 2017, Sessions sponsored a bill to delay for nine years the full implementation of 2015 ozone standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Obama administration; the bill passed the House, largely on party lines.{{cite news |first=Caroline |last=Kelly |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2017/07/19/house-approves-texan-s-bill-to-delay-obama-era-ozone-standards-for-reducing-pollution/ |title=House approves Texan's bill to delay Obama-era ozone standards for reducing pollution |work=Dallas News |date=July 18, 2017 }}

Sessions supported the North Texas Invasive Species Barrier Act of 2014, a bill that would exempt the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) from prosecution under the Lacey Act for transferring water containing invasive species from Oklahoma to Texas.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbo.gov/publication/45202|title=H.R. 4032|date=March 21, 2014 |publisher=Congressional Budget Office|access-date=28 April 2014}} The Lacey Act protects plants and wildlife by creating civil and criminal penalties for various violations, including transferring invasive species across state borders. Sessions argued that the bill was necessary to prevent "more than 1.5 million customers of the North Texas Municipal Water District" from facing "restricted access to water as a result of the discovery of invasive species in Lake Texoma."{{cite press release|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025654/http://sessions.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=6F5117C9-B4E6-4E44-8396-B76DAB872C3D |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url=http://sessions.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=6F5117C9-B4E6-4E44-8396-B76DAB872C3D|title=Pete Sessions Applauds Passage of the North Texas Invasive Species Barrier Act of 2014|date=28 April 2014|publisher=Office of U.S. Representative Pete Sessions|access-date=30 April 2014}}

Sessions drew controversy in 2016 when he asserted that the site of the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, the scene of a terrorist mass shooting, was not a gay club.{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/283473-sessions-says-orlando-nightclub-was-not-gay-club/ |title=Pete Sessions says Orlando shooting site was not gay club|last=Savransky|first=Rebecca|date=2016-06-14 |work=The Hill| access-date=2017-04-03 }}{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/283531-house-gop-leaders-block-lgbt-vote-after-orlando-shooting/ |title=House GOP leaders block LGBT vote after Orlando shooting |last=Marcos |first=Cristina |date=2016-06-14 |work=The Hill |access-date=2017-04-03 }}

Sessions opposes abortion and supports defunding Planned Parenthood.{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Bill |title=Allred vs. Sessions: A Congressional Race To Watch |url=https://www.prestonhollowpeople.com/2018/09/25/allred-vs-sessions-a-congressional-race-to-watch/ |access-date=5 October 2018 |publisher=Preston Hollow People |date=September 25, 2018}}

Sessions favors repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA or "Obamacare").{{Cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/19507/51283/288/repeal-of-the-patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act-and-health-care-related-provisions-in-the-health-care-and-education-reconciliation-act-of-2010#.VcCuf6ow8dU|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-03}} He supported the March 2017 version of the American Health Care Act, the House Republicans' replacement for the ACA.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/20/us/politics/health-care-whip-count.html|title=How House Republicans Planned to Vote on the Obamacare Replacement|date=2017-03-20|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-04-04|issn=0362-4331}} On May 4, 2017, he voted to repeal the ACA and pass the American Health Care Act.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/ahca-house-vote/ |first1=Kim |last1=Soffen |first2=Darla |last2=Cameron |first3=Kevin |last3=Uhrmacher |title=How the House voted to pass the GOP health-care bill |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 4, 2017 |access-date=2017-05-04}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/05/04/health-care-vote-puts-pressure-dozens-vulnerable-gop-reps/101297824/|title=Health care vote puts pressure on dozens of vulnerable GOP reps|work=USA Today|access-date=2017-05-04|first=Heidi M |last=Przybyla |date=May 4, 2017}}

In September 2010, Sessions remarked after watching the Princeton University men's basketball team, "How often can you go see a bunch of white guys play basketball?" He also reportedly said that the players stayed entirely below the rim. The comments were described as an allusion to the phrase "White Men Can't Jump", and were called inappropriate by New Jersey Representative Bill Pascrell.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/09/nrcc-chief-jokes-about-white-guys-042889 |title=NRCC chief jokes about 'white guys' |publisher=Politico |date=2010-09-29 |first=Jonathan |last=Allen |access-date=September 29, 2010}}

Less than two weeks after his "white guys" comments, Sessions made controversial comments about the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) giving money to and supporting "African Americans like Sanford Bishop. And when you have to retreat back to ... your hard base you're having to make tough decisions."{{cite web|url=https://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/top-goper-pete-sessions-makes-racially-insensitive-remarks-about-dem-incumbents |title=NRCC Chair Makes Racially Insensitive Remarks |publisher=Talking Points Memo |access-date=October 7, 2010 |date=2010-10-07 |first=Brian |last=Beutler }}{{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/50586-1.html?ET=rollcall:e8901:80042083a:&st=email|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012044208/http://www.rollcall.com/news/50586-1.html?ET=rollcall:e8901:80042083a:&st=email |date=October 7, 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-date=October 12, 2010 |first=John |last=McArdle |title=Democrats & African-Americans |publisher=Roll Call|access-date=October 7, 2010}}

Sessions voted against the DREAM Act in 2010.{{cite news |url=https://projects.propublica.org/represent/votes/111/house/2/625 |title=House Vote 625 - Approves DREAM Act: H.R.5281 |work=ProPublica |date=December 8, 2010 }}

Sessions supported Trump's 2017 executive order imposing a temporary ban on immigration from seven predominantly Muslim nations, saying, "Just as President Obama suspended the refugee program in 2011 for six months, the Trump administration is working to protect national security by making adjustments in the refugee vetting process. It is critical that we address the threat of individuals who come to our country to create chaos and threaten our freedom."{{cite web|last1=Blake|first1=Aaron|title=Coffman, Gardner join Republicans against President Trump's travel ban; here's where the rest stand|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/29/republicans-on-trump-travel-ban/ |website=Denver Post |access-date=30 January 2017 |date=2017-01-29}}

In 2017, Sessions suggested that Congress could appropriate funds for part of construction of a U.S.-Mexico border wall demanded by Trump as part of "a Republican-only bill" to continue funding the government.{{cite news |first=Mallory |last=Shelbourne |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/330188-gop-rep-congress-will-find-a-way-to-avoid-shutdown/ |title=GOP rep: Funding bill could include Trump's border wall |work=The Hill |date=April 24, 2017 }}

Sessions came under scrutiny for his personal ties to disgraced banker Allen Stanford,{{cite web|last=Sallah |first=Michael |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2009/12/27/v-fullstory/1399470/feds-probe-banker-allen-stanfords.html |title=Feds probing Congress' ties to disgraced banker Stanford|newspaper=Miami Herald|date=December 27, 2009}} who in 2012 was convicted of orchestrating a $7 billion Ponzi scheme.{{cite news |first=Murray |last=Waas |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/congressman-pete-sessions-and-r-allen-stanford/ |title=New Disclosures About a Congressman's Relationship with a Now-Imprisoned Texas Billionaire |work=Vice News |date=June 12, 2014 }} Sessions received over $44,000 in political contributions from Stanford and his associates. He also took multiple trips to Fire Island and to the Caribbean to attend Stanford-sponsored events; these trips included private travel on Stanford's fleet of jets and accommodations. In 2014, VICE News obtained records from Stanford's internal files that indicated that in 2007 and 2008, before the scandal came to light, Sessions had intervened on Stanford's behalf with the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, allowing Stanford to bypass certain Cuban embargo restrictions. Also, in 2004, Sessions and two other Republican representatives, Bob Ney and John E. Sweeney, wrote to Venezuelan banking regulators, "vouching for Stanford's character when Stanford was trying to obtain a charter to open a bank in the country, at a time when regulators there were reluctant because of reports they had received that Stanford was running a Ponzi scheme and engaged in money laundering."

In early February 2009, Sessions made the following comment about the Republican Party legislative strategy in the House of Representatives: "Insurgency, we understand perhaps a little bit more because of the Taliban. And that is that they went about systematically understanding how to disrupt and change a person's entire processes."{{cite web|last=Becker|first=Bernie|date=February 5, 2009|title=Sessions, Stimulus and the Taliban|url=https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/sessions-stimulus-and-the-taliban/|work=The New York Times}}{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2009/02/well_fight_them_in_the_mountai | title =Learning from the Taliban | newspaper =The Economist | date =February 5, 2009}} He continued: "I'm not trying to say the Republican Party is the Taliban.... I'm saying an example of how you go about [it] is to change a person from their messaging to their operations to their front-line message. And we need to understand that insurgency may be required when the other side, the House leadership, does not follow the same commands, which we entered the game with."{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2009/02/pete-sessions-house-gop-learning-from-taliban-015889 | title =Pete Sessions: House GOP learning from Taliban |first =Glenn |last=Thrush | publisher =Politico | date =February 5, 2009}}

In January 2012, it was reported that Sessions received a so-called "VIP" or "Friends of Angelo" loan in 2007 from troubled mortgage lender Countrywide Financial, which was granted at a lower interest rate than was available to the public. Former Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo created the program to boost the company's standing with politicians, celebrities and well-connected business figures. Sessions received a $1 million loan from Countrywide at below-market rates, which he never declared in financial disclosures. His name and those of other legislators who received similar loans subsequently appeared in a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's ethics investigation into improper gifts.{{cite news|title=Sessions got Countrywide VIP loan|url=http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=212ECF88-A719-466E-BF8D-F46EAB58E2A5|date=2012-01-17|publisher=Politico|first=John|last=Bresnahan|access-date=2012-01-19|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513055616/http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=212ECF88-A719-466E-BF8D-F46EAB58E2A5|archive-date=2013-05-13}}{{cite news|title=Mozilo Tied to Loan to Top Lawmaker |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204468004577167311547612288|date=2012-01-18|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|first=John|last=Emshwiller|access-date=2012-01-19}} He was cleared of any wrongdoing by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform when its investigation found he did not receive any preferential treatment or a below-market interest rate on his mortgage from Countrywide.{{cite news |title=Pete Sessions cleared of wrongdoing in Countrywide loan scandal |first=Victoria |last=Pelham |newspaper=Dallas Morning News |date=2012-07-05 |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20120705-pete-sessions-cleared-of-wrongdoing-in-countrywide-loan-scandal.ece |access-date=2012-09-08 }}

In 2008, Sessions introduced legislation that created a commemorative silver dollar coin celebrating the centennial of the Boy Scouts of America.{{cite news |url=http://www.coinnews.net/2008/04/28/boy-scouts-of-america-silver-dollar-centennial-commemorative-coin-4056 |title=Boy Scouts of America Silver Dollar Centennial Commemorative Coin Legislation |work=Coin News |date=April 28, 2008 }} The bill passed the House on a 403–8 vote and the Senate unanimously; it was signed into law by President George W. Bush.{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/5872/summary/36 |title=H.R.5872 - Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act: 110th Congress (2007-2008) |website=Congress.gov }}

{{main|Trump–Ukraine scandal#Arrest of Lev Parnas, Igor Fruman and David Correia}}

On October 10, 2019, the Texas Tribune, among other news outlets, reported that Sessions was identifiable as "Congressman-1"{{cite news |title=Pete Sessions is "Congressman-1" in Giulani associates' indictment, reports say |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2019/10/10/pete-sessions-congressman-1-guliani-associates-indictment/ |first=Abby |last=Livingston |access-date=11 October 2019 |newspaper=The Texas Tribune |date=11 October 2019}} in an indictment by the Southern District of New York charging Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman with illegal campaign contributions aimed at removing former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie L. Yovanovitch. In 2018, after meeting with Parnas and Fruman, Sessions authored a letter in his capacity as House Rules Committee chair calling for Yovanovitch's removal. On October 15, The Washington Post reported that the grand jury investigating the matter had issued subpoenas to Sessions, with which his spokesperson said he would cooperate.{{cite news |title=Former Rep. Pete Sessions subpoenaed by grand jury investigating Giuliani and associates |first1=Matt |last1=Zapotosky |first2=Devlin |last2=Barrett |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/former-rep-pete-sessions-subpoenaed-by-grand-jury-investigating-giuliani-and-associates/2019/10/15/c7fb9204-ef98-11e9-8693-f487e46784aa_story.html |access-date=16 October 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 15, 2019}} Sessions denied that he took any action as a result of his meetings with Parnas and Fruman.

File:Richard Sessions.png

In February 1984,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Sessions-Wife-Separating-125668363.html |agency=Associated Press |title=Rep. Pete Sessions, Wife Separating|date=July 15, 2011|work=NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth|access-date=2017-12-29|language=en}} Sessions married Juanita "Nete" Diaz;{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/1998/states/TX/H/05/pete.sessions.html|title=CNN/AllPolitics Election '98|website=CNN|access-date=2017-12-29}} the couple had two sons. In August 2011, they divorced after 27 years of marriage.{{cite web|last=Zeller |first=Shawn |url=http://hoh.rollcall.com/pete-sessions%E2%80%99-divorce-is-final/ |title=Pete Sessions' Divorce Is Final |publisher=Roll Call |date=2012-03-18 |access-date=2013-10-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195820/http://hoh.rollcall.com/pete-sessions%E2%80%99-divorce-is-final/ |archive-date=2013-10-29 }} In August 2012, Sessions married Karen Diebel, a 2010 congressional candidate in Florida{{cite web|last=Bresnahan |first=John |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79386.html |title=Pete Sessions weds |website=Politico |date=August 5, 2012 |access-date=2013-10-24}} and a first Trump administration appointee to the Millennium Challenge Corporation.{{cite news |last1=O'Harrow Jr. |first1=Robert |title=White House uses foreign aid agency to give jobs to Trump loyalists |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/white-house-uses-foreign-aid-agency-to-give-jobs-to-trump-loyalists/2018/07/28/3f819ac2-86da-11e8-8589-5bb6b89e3772_story.html |access-date=July 30, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 28, 2018 |language=en}}

Sessions is descended from Richard Sessions, who owned 96 slaves in Chicot County, Arkansas. Richard's land was valued at $75,000 and with inflation his personal wealth was around $113 million. His house was raided during the American Civil War and was financially unsuccessful after the war.{{Cite news |date=June 27, 2023 |title=More than 100 U.S. political elites have family links to slavery |agency=Reuters}}

Pete Sessions is not related to former Senator and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.{{Cite web|url=https://about.bgov.com/news/pete-sessions-set-to-return-to-congress-but-jeff-sessions-isnt/|title=Pete Sessions Set to Return to Congress but Jeff Sessions Isn't|date=July 15, 2020 }}

{{Portal|Texas|Politics}}

• Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman
• Rudy Giuliani

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• [https://sessions.house.gov Representative Pete Sessions] official U.S. House website
• [http://www.petesessions.com/ Pete Sessions for Congress]
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Category:1955 births

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Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas

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