Sessions: Dems are trying to ‘hold Specter in line’

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) said Thursday that he believed Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), who switched to the Democratic Party, was welcome in the GOP caucus and that Democrats are now treating him unfairly by stripping him of his seniority.

Appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Sessions said that he “always respected Arlen Specter.”

“He is a brilliant lawyer, very independently minded and he sees things his own way,” Sessions said.

Sessions, almost entirely unprompted, then brought up the Democrats decision to strip Specter of his seniority on committees.

“It is odd to me that it looks like he’s going to get no seniority…because he said some independent things,” Sessions said.

Sessions said the Democrats are trying to “hold him in line” and that he doesn’t “think that’s healthy.”

The decision to strip Specter of seniority has caused something of a stir. Specter has since said that he expects to receive his seniority, which he views as an “entitlement,” within the caucus after the next election.

jeremy.jacobs@digital-stage.thehill.com