After roughly two decades in the Senate, Jeff Sessions formally resigned Wednesday night after being confirmed as President Trump’s attorney general.
In a near party-line 52-47 vote, Sessions was confirmed. He abstained from voting on himself.
In his farewell speech shortly after his confirmation, Sessions — who now takes over the Justice Department — talked about his excitement for his new role.
“I have an interest in law enforcement. I have an interest in the rule of law,” he said.
Sessions was first elected to the Senate in 1996, having earlier served as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama and the attorney general of Alabama.
One of Trump’s earliest congressional supporters, he thanked the president on the Senate floor.
“I want to thank President Donald Trump. He believes in the rule of law, he believes in protecting the American people from crime and violence,” the 70-year-old said.
He then seemed to remind himself that as attorney general, “this is a law enforcement office first and foremost.”
“This is a special honor, I feel it in my bones. I hope and pray I can be worthy of the trust you’ve given me,” he added.
Before Sessions was confirmed there were a few heated moments on the Senate floor.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., was silenced by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and the GOP majority after reading a letter written by Coretta Scott King opposing the nomination of Session for a federal judgeship.
McConnell and Republicans said she broke rules against impugning another senator, and was then stopped from speaking again against Sessions on the floor.
Sessions didn’t mention names, but addressed the partisan tension.
“Let’s agree on what we can agree on … But denigrating people who disagree with us is not a healthy trend for” the Senate, Sessions said.
“By your vote tonight, I’ve been given a real challenge,” he concluded, saying he will step up to the challenge.
He then signed and officially submitted his resignation to Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, who will appoint his successor.
Sessions will be sworn in as attorney general on Thursday.
