Sen. Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsTrump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status White House officials voted by show of hands on 2018 family separations: report MORE (R-Ala.) said Tuesday that he would consider grabbing a woman by her genitals without her consent as sexual assault.

“Clearly it would be,” Sessions said, when asked by Sen. Patrick Leahy Patrick Joseph LeahyBattle over timing complicates Democratic shutdown strategy Hillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts MORE (D-Vt.) about such a situation.

During his confirmation hearing to serve as President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE’s attorney general, Sessions said a president would be subject to the same lawful restrictions as anyone else.

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“The president is subject to certain lawful restrictions and they would be required to be applied by the appropriate law enforcement official if appropriate, yes,” Sessions said, but he claimed he did not know whether Trump's remarks constituted an unwanted action.

Leahy’s question stems from the 2005 Access Hollywood tape that featured Trump making lewd comments about women. At the time the tapes were leaked in October, Sessions was asked if the actions Trump described on the tape would be considered sexual assault.

He told the Weekly Standard then: “I don't characterize that as sexual assault. I think that's a stretch.”

But when Leahy asked his question a second time during the confirmation hearing, Sessions again answered, “Yes.”

"My question is very simple. Is grabbing a woman by the genitals without her consent, is that sexual assault?" Leahy asked.

“Yes," Sessions responded.