Jeff Sessions, Donald Trump's attorney general, was one of the first senators to support his presidential campaign - and also one of his most controversial nominees for his administration.

Mr Sessions, 70, whose contacts with Russian officials during the presidential campaign are coming under scrutiny, is a political veteran well-known for his staunchly conservative views - and for being rejected as a federal judge over concerns about his views on race.

He served as a junior senator for Alabama for 20 years, until his appointment by Mr Trump, and was also the state's attorney general.

His tenure was certainly not without controversy.