Jeff Sessions struggles in debate with interns on marijuana, police brutality

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U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions got a run for his money during a testy exchange with Justice Department interns.

In newly released video published by ABC News, Attorney Jeff Sessions can be seen debating with Justice Department interns on marijuana policies and police brutality.

In the video, Sessions mocked a young woman and called her “Dr. Whatever-Your-Name-Is” when she brought up marijuana policy and said that she disagreed with the American Medical Association’s view of marijuana.

“Since guns kill more people than marijuana, why lax laws on one and harsh laws on the other?” asked one intern who called out the DOJ’s policy stance on gun control.

“Look, there is this view that marijuana is harmless and it does no damage,” Sessions replied.

“I believe last year was the first year that automobile accidents that occurred were found to have been caused more by drugs than by alcohol,” he continued. “Marijuana is not a healthy substance, in my opinion. The American Medical Association is crystal clear on that.”

Another intern brought up police brutality, saying, “I grew up in one of these communities. I grew up in a projects to a single mother. And the people who we are afraid of are not necessarily our neighbors, but the police.”

“Well, that may be the view in Berkeley, but it’s not the view in most places in the country,” Sessions replied.

“That’s the view in Columbus, Ohio … where the police just recently stomped a person’s head,” the intern replied.

“I hear ya,” Sessions replied and raised his hand.

“We’ve got a situation in which we need to confront violent crime in America in cities that have abandoned traditional police activities like Baltimore and Chicago, [where] murder rates have surged — particularly in poor neighborhoods. And so, we in this department are absolutely committed to maintaining the civil rights for every American. And when a police officer violates those rights and we have federal charges that we can bring, we’re going to bring them.”

According to a Justice Department spokesperson, the debate was intended to give students a chance “to have robust conversations — even debates — about the challenges facing our country with the attorney general.”