Sessions confirmed as U.S. attorney general after battle with Democrats

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Sessions confirmed as U.S. attorney general after battle with Democrats

By Julia Edwards Ainsley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bitterly divided U.S. Senate confirmed Republican Senator Jeff Sessions on Wednesday as the next attorney general of the United States after strong pushback from Democrats concerned about his record on civil rights. Sessions, 70, who has served two decades in the Senate from Alabama, was confirmed by a 52-47 vote largely along party lines after Democrats raised public opposition to his confirmation. In a rare move for a senator recently confirmed to a Cabinet position, Sessions took to the floor of the chamber after the vote and called for members of Congress to have some "latitude" in their relationships with members of the other party.

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Guatemala arrests Supreme Court judge in corruption probe

A Guatemalan Supreme Court judge was arrested on Wednesday accused of influence trafficking, prosecutors said, in the latest anti-corruption drive in the Central American country. Blanca Stalling was walking in the capital, Guatemala City, when she was arrested while wearing a red wig and sunglasses, according to Julia Barrera, a spokeswoman for the Attorney General's office. Congress withdrew Stalling's immunity a week ago after she was accused by a lower-ranking judge of attempting to pressure him to give her son favorable treatment in a fraud case.

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