President-elect Donald Trump on Friday signaled his intention to deliver on his hard-line campaign promises on immigration policy, voting rights, policing and domestic surveillance of Muslims and others suspected of terrorist ties by tapping a trio of staunch conservatives for senior national security roles in his administration.
Trump announced that he plans to nominate Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., as attorney general and Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., as CIA director, while also choosing retired lieutenant general Michael T. Flynn as his White House national security adviser.
Trump’s selections were greeted with widespread applause by his core supporters and other Republicans. But Democrats and civil rights advocates denounced Sessions and Flynn for their controversial records, portending a potentially messy Senate confirmation process for Sessions, a 20-year veteran of the chamber.