Moreover, as George Will has pointed out, Sessions also opposes the reform of asset‐​forfeiture laws. He has defended these laws, which are considered by most observers to be widely abused, as a means of taking money from people who have “done nothing in their lives but sell dope.” He’s even advocated allowing the federal government to step in and seize assets when state law‐​enforcement agencies won’t.

Just as worrying, Sessions generally opposes Justice Department supervision of local police departments accused of racial abuses. “Consent decrees have a profound effect on our legal system as they constitute an end run around the democratic process,” he has said.

Elsewhere, he has defended the ability of the NSA and other federal agencies to spy on Americans. Last April, the Republican‐​controlled House of Representatives unanimously passed the Email Privacy Act, designed to require that law‐​enforcement agencies receive a warrant before they can compel tech firms such as Google and Microsoft to hand over Americans’ stored cell‐​phone communications. Sessions introduced an amendment to the bill that would have created a loophole allowing law enforcement to demand such data without a warrant.

Finally, he has opposed legislation protecting the jobs of federal whistle‐​blowers and shield laws protecting journalists from having to disclose their sources.

Sessions will almost certainly be confirmed. Presidents are generally entitled to the cabinet of their choosing, and nothing that has come out about Trump’s AG nominee so far appears disqualifying. But that doesn’t mean that Senators shouldn’t ask him tough questions.

To this point, Democrats have focused much of their criticism of Sessions on long‐​ago and disputed racially inflammatory statements that he may or may not have made. Those criticisms are unlikely to go anywhere. But both Democrats and Republicans should join in concern over Sessions’s knee‐​jerk deferral to law enforcement and government authority.

The U.S. attorney general holds great power. Conservatives should not be afraid to subject the man who would wield that power to the strictest scrutiny.