Pete Sessions | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2009 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromTexas | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Flores |
| Constituency | 17th district |
| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | John Bryant |
| Succeeded by | Colin Allred |
| Constituency | 5th district (1997–2003) 32nd district (2003–2019) |
| Chair of theHouse Rules Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | David Dreier |
| Succeeded by | Jim McGovern |
| Chair of theNational Republican Congressional Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013 | |
| Leader | John Boehner |
| Preceded by | Tom Cole |
| Succeeded by | Greg Walden |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Peter Anderson Sessions (1955-03-22)March 22, 1955 (age 70) Waco, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | William S. Sessions (father) |
| Education | Southwestern University (BS) |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Sessions supporting the Medical Controlled Substances Transportation Act of 2017. Recorded July 11, 2017 | |
Peter Anderson Sessions (born March 22, 1955) is an American politician who serves in theUnited States House of Representatives forTexas's 17th congressional district as a member of theRepublican Party. He chaired theHouse Rules Committee from 2013 to 2019 and is a former chair of theNational Republican Congressional Committee.[1]
Sessions previously served in Congress from 1997 to 2019, representing districts based inDallas. He was defeated for reelection byDemocratColin Allred in 2018.[2] On October 3, 2019, Sessions announced that he was running for Congress again in 2020.[3][4] He was elected to the 17th district, based inWaco, on November 3, 2020.[5]
Pete Sessions was born inWaco, Texas, on March 22, 1955, to Alice June Lewis andWilliam S. Sessions, who served asDirector of theFederal Bureau of Investigation. He attendedWinston Churchill High School and graduated fromSouthwestern University in 1978. He worked atSouthwestern Bell for sixteen years and rose to become a district manager for marketing in Dallas.[6][7] TheBoy Scouts of America recognized Sessions as a "Distinguished Eagle Scout." He holds a position on theCircle Ten Council of the BSA. His two sons are also active in scouting.[8]
In 1991, Sessions finished sixthin a special election for theHouse of Representatives. In 1993, he left his job with Southwestern Bell to again run for Congress, against 5th DistrictincumbentDemocratic representativeJohn Bryant. He toured the district with a livestock trailer full of horse manure, claiming that theClinton Administration's health care plan stank more than the manure.[9] He lost by 2,400 votes. He subsequently became vice president for public policy at theNational Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), a Dallas-based conservative public policy research institute.
In 1996, when Bryant ran for aSenate 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-termDemocraticincumbentMartin Frost, who had moved to the 32nd afterredistricting 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-oldstreaking incident by Sessions in his college days and questioning his commitment to security with an ad featuring theWorld Trade Center towers in flames. In response, he criticized Frost for bookingPeter Yarrow of the 1960s groupPeter, Paul and Mary for a fundraiser. Yarrow had faced an indecency with a child charge years earlier."
In 2010, Sessions facedDallas businessman and attorneyGrier 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.[10] In 2012, he faced Democratic candidate Katherine Savers McGovern and independent candidate Seth Hollis. Sessions was endorsed by theDallas Morning News and was reelected. In the 2014 Republican primary, Sessions defeatedconservativeKatrina Pierson, anAfrican American aligned with theTea Party movement, polling 28,954 votes (63.6%) to her 16,560 (36.4%).[11][12] Pierson, originally allied with U.S. senatorTed Cruz, later joinedDonald 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%).[13]
Sessions lost his bid for reelection in 2018 to DemocratColin Allred, a lawyer and former professional (NFL) football player.
In October 2019, Sessions announced his candidacy for the 2020 election inTexas's 17th congressional district. While the 17th is about 100 miles (160 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.[14][15] 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.
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Through August 2017, Sessions voted with his party in 98.8% of votes in the115th session of Congress and voted in line with President Trump's position in 97.5% of votes.[16][17]
In November 1997, Sessions was one of 18 House Republicans to co-sponsora resolution byBob Barr that sought to launch animpeachment inquiry against PresidentBill Clinton.[18][19] The resolution did not specify any charges or allegations.[19] This was an early effort toimpeach Clinton, predating the eruption of theClinton–Lewinsky scandal. That scandal led to a more serious effort to impeach Clinton in 1998.[20] On October 8, 1998, Sessions voted for legislation to openan impeachment inquiry.[21]On December 19, 1998, he voted in favor of all four proposedarticles of impeachment against Clinton (only two of which received the majority of votes needed to be adopted).[22][23][24][25]
Sessions voted against thesecond impeachment of Donald Trump after the2021 storming of the United States Capitol.[26] He also was among 147 congressional Republicans who voted to overturn the 2020 election results.[27]
In October 2021,Business Insider reported that Sessions had violated theStop 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 inAmazon.[28] 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.[29]
Sessions unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for theOctober 2023 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election.[30]
In the 2010 election, while he was chair of theNational Republican Congressional Committee, the party gained control of the House with a net gain of 63 seats and 89 new freshman members.[31]
In 2014, Sessions was originally a candidate for the post ofHouse majority leader, to replaceEric Cantor,[32] but withdrew from the internalHouse Republican Conference election, leaving the field clear forKevin McCarthy of California.[33][34]
117th Congress:
Formerly:Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
113th-115th Congress:
In 2012, Sessions was named chair of theHouse Rules Committee for the113th Congress bySpeaker of the HouseJohn Boehner. He retained his chairmanship into the 115th Congress.
In 2017, Sessions, as chair of the House Rules Committee, stalled a bill imposing additionalsanctions against Russia andIran 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.[39]
In July 2018, Sessions argued that it was unnecessary to increase federal funding for election security.[40] 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.[40]
Sessions andRudy Giuliani were involved in back-channel talks attempting to persuade Venezuelan PresidentNicolás 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 AdviserJohn Bolton,The Washington Post reported.[41]
In late 2001 and early 2002, Sessions cosigned letters to twoCabinet members asking them to shut downcasinos operated by several Native American tribes. Within 18 months of sending the letters, he received a total of $20,500 from tribes associated withJack 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 forfederalism.[42][43]
In 2008, Sessions added a $1.6 millionearmark fordirigible research to anappropriations bill. The earmark benefited aChicago company, Jim G. Ferguson & Associates, that had no experience ingovernment contracting or dirigible research. Former Sessions aide and convictedfelon Adrian Plesha was alobbyist for the firm.[44][45] In September, Plesha sued Jim G. Ferguson & Associates for non-payment of fees and expenses connected with his lobbying effort on their behalf.[46]
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.[47][48]
Sessions was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of theFiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[49]
In 2025, Sessions voted for theOne Big Beautiful Bill Act, which theCongressional Budget Office estimated would add $2.8 trillion to the national deficit.[50][51]
In March 2016, Sessions introduced a House resolution to "recognize magic as a rare and valuable art form and national treasure."[52][53]
In 2024, Sessions called THC “addictive” and “dangerous to the health and growth of every American.”[54]Sessions opposed allowing states to determine their own policies regarding the legality ofcannabis and the regulation of legal cannabis markets. As chair of theHouse Rules Committee, he repeatedly stifled proposedamendments relaxing federal laws against cannabis, including one that would have allowed medical marijuana access to veterans in states where the drug is legal.[55]
Sessions supported the1033 program, under which the U.S. military transfers surplus military equipment to local law enforcement agencies; the program is controversial because of its association withmilitarization of police. In 2015 and 2017, he cosponsored Republican legislation to reverse the Obama administration's restrictions on the 1033 program.[56]
In 2012, Sessions voted againstdisaster relief for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.[57] In August 2017, in the wake ofHurricane Harvey, which devastated parts of Texas, he called for disaster relief for its victims.[57][58]
In 2016, Sessions criticized the independent, nonpartisanOffice 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."[59] In 2017, he publicly defended a House Republican plan to dismantle the OCE; the plan was abandoned after a public uproar.[60] Sessions is opposed to banning members of Congress from trading stocks.[29]
In 2017, Sessions sponsored a bill to delay for nine years the full implementation of 2015 ozone standards set by theEnvironmental Protection Agency under the Obama administration; the bill passed the House, largely on party lines.[61]
Sessions supported theNorth Texas Invasive Species Barrier Act of 2014, a bill that would exempt the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) from prosecution under theLacey Act for transferring water containinginvasive species fromOklahoma to Texas.[62] The Lacey Act protects plants and wildlife by creating civil and criminal penalties for various violations, including transferring invasive species across state borders.[62] 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."[63]
Sessions drew controversy in 2016 when he asserted that the site of thePulse nightclub in Orlando, the scene of aterrorist mass shooting, was not a gay club.[64][65]
Sessions opposes abortion and supports defundingPlanned Parenthood.[66]
Sessions favors repealing thePatient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA or "Obamacare").[67] He supported the March 2017 version of theAmerican Health Care Act, the House Republicans' replacement for the ACA.[68] On May 4, 2017, he voted to repeal the ACA and pass the American Health Care Act.[69][70]
In September 2010, Sessions remarked after watching thePrinceton Universitymen'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 byNew Jersey RepresentativeBill Pascrell.[71]
Less than two weeks after his "white guys" comments, Sessions made controversial comments about theDemocratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) giving money to and supporting "African Americans likeSanford Bishop. And when you have to retreat back to ... your hard base you're having to make tough decisions."[72][73]
Sessions voted against theDREAM Act in 2010.[74]
Sessions supported Trump's 2017executive 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."[75]
In 2017, Sessions suggested that Congress could appropriate funds for part of construction of aU.S.-Mexico border wall demanded by Trump as part of "a Republican-only bill" tocontinue funding the government.[76]
Sessions came under scrutiny for his personal ties to disgraced bankerAllen Stanford,[77] who in 2012 was convicted of orchestrating a $7 billionPonzi scheme.[78] Sessions received over $44,000 in political contributions from Stanford and his associates.[77] He also took multiple trips to Fire Island and to theCaribbean to attend Stanford-sponsored events; these trips included private travel on Stanford's fleet of jets and accommodations.[77][78] 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 theTreasury Department'sOffice of Foreign Assets Control, allowing Stanford to bypass certainCuban embargo restrictions.[78] Also, in 2004, Sessions and two other Republican representatives,Bob Ney andJohn E. Sweeney, wrote toVenezuelan 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."[78]
In early February 2009, Sessions made the following comment about theRepublican 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."[79][80] He continued: "I'm not trying to say the Republican Party is theTaliban.... 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."[81]
In January 2012, it was reported that Sessions received a so-called "VIP" or "Friends of Angelo" loan in 2007 from troubled mortgage lenderCountrywide Financial, which was granted at a lower interest rate than was available to the public. Former Countrywide CEOAngelo 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 aHouse Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's ethics investigation into improper gifts.[82][83] He was cleared of any wrongdoing by theHouse 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.[84]
In 2008, Sessions introduced legislation that created acommemorative silver dollar coin celebrating the centennial of theBoy Scouts of America.[85] The bill passed the House on a 403–8 vote and the Senate unanimously; it was signed into law by PresidentGeorge W. Bush.[86]
On October 10, 2019, theTexas Tribune, among other news outlets, reported that Sessions was identifiable as "Congressman-1"[87] in an indictment by the Southern District of New York chargingLev Parnas and Igor Fruman with illegal campaign contributions aimed at removing former U.S. Ambassador to UkraineMarie L. Yovanovitch. In 2018, after meeting with Parnas and Fruman, Sessions authored a letter in his capacity asHouse Rules Committee chair calling for Yovanovitch's removal.[88][87] 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.[88] Sessions denied that he took any action as a result of his meetings with Parnas and Fruman.[87][88]
In February 1984,[89] Sessions married Juanita "Nete" Diaz;[90][91] the couple had two sons.[89] In August 2011, they divorced after 27 years of marriage.[90] In August 2012, Sessions married Karen Diebel, a2010 congressional candidate in Florida[92] and afirst Trump administration appointee to theMillennium Challenge Corporation.[93]
Sessions is descended from Richard Sessions, who owned 96 slaves inChicot 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 theAmerican Civil War and was financially unsuccessful after the war.[94]
Pete Sessions is not related to former Senator and Attorney GeneralJeff Sessions.[95]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromTexas's 5th congressional district 1997–2003 | Succeeded by |
| New constituency | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromTexas's 32nd congressional district 2003–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theHouse Rules Committee 2013–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromTexas's 17th congressional district 2021–present | Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chair of theNational Republican Congressional Committee 2009–2013 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 31st | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Order of precedence of the United States | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
