Jeff Sessions mocks Hawaii — and Hawaii mocks right back

Sara Morrison

After Attorney General Jeff Sessions made the decision to disparage a state in the country over which he is the chief law enforcement officer, residents of that state (along with a few folks who just relished the chance to get in a dig at Sessions) weighed in on Twitter.

Sessions, in a talk radio interview about the U.S. federal judge serving in Hawaii — who was one of the judges who blocked President Trump's second attempt at a travel ban — had this to say: "I really am amazed that a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific can issue an order that stops the president of the United States from what appears to be clearly his statutory and Constitutional power."

Jeff Sessions through the years

Yes, despite being stranded on an "island in the Pacific," Hawaiians were somehow able to access the internet to make their feelings known.

First up, all four of the state's (Democrat) representatives in Congress, who were livid:

This included Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who famously met with President Trump shortly after he was elected president (and is no fan of Sessions):

And now, the rest of Hawaii erupts:

Some Civil War shade:

Some Hawaiians pointed out that being a state hasn't necessarily been in their best interests:

Over at Hawaii reddit, one redditor pointed out that Hawaii's diversity was once a sticking point for several Southern congressmen, and possibly still is for the former Alabama senator:

Sessions 'amazed' judge 'on an island in the Pacific' halted Trump travel order from Hawaii

The Department of Justice responded to the criticism by noting that one of Sessions' grandchildren (who he has been accused of using as props before) was born in Hawaii. It then went on to misunderstand how the federal court system works, as well as how many islands make up the state of Hawaii:

Hawaii's Attorney General, Doug Chin (who brought the lawsuit against Trump's executive order that led to the Island in the Pacific judge's decision), helpfully explained what the judicial branch is and does:

And reminded Sessions that Hawaii is, in fact, a state:

Sessions' decision to belittle a federal judge who was nominated by the president and unanimously confirmed by the Senate (which, at the time, included Sessions) as simply "a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific" is consistent with the current administration's dim view of the judicial process when it makes decisions it does not agree with. In February, he attacked a judge from the USA who ruled against his travel ban:

The post Jeff Sessions Mocks Hawaii — And Hawaii Mocks Right Back appeared first on Vocativ.

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