. >> will he be swing big the obama alumni event? mr. earnest: we'll keep you posted on his schedule, i'm not sure what he'll be doing. >> on that february 2009 letter, how important for the decision back at that time or throughout was the o.g.e. process? did you learn anything new that made you reconsider a nominee? mr. earnest: at this point, i don't think i would say that -- off the top of my head, i can't think of a scenario. >> did disclosures about richardson come out in the o.g.e. letter? >> that's ancient history as far as i'm concerned. i guess what -- i think what i can tell you is that the standard that the obama administration lived up to was a standard of ensuring that o.g.e. ethics letter arrangement was complete before these individuals got hearing before the united states congress. >> it was more protocol, wasn't like you learned additional stuff. >> it's certainly possible that there was additional information that was unearthed as a result of those things, i think the more important thing here is not just the background

. >> and kareem, lucky to be here with two obama alumni, three if you count -- >> that's right. >> really involved in the campaign. it's interesting, you have this movement around barack obama that was unlike anything that we've ever seen, but elected the first black president. you're now seeing, as rick said, tremendous. this is not just in the united states, it's global. was there something about donald trump's speech yesterday that even accelerated this? this is twice or more the estimate of the crowd that we thought was coming. >> i think there was a couple of things. i think it was donald trump going after representative john lewis, right? and the democrats saying, hey, we're not -- we're not going to support you more than, you know, a couple dozen democrats doing that. and his speech yesterday was terrible! there was -- you are supposed to -- he's supposed to unify the country. he's supposed to reach across the aisle and say, hey, you know what, i know that i won, i know that people are really hurt and are fearful and are worried about my administration, but i'm going to bring you i

i'm proud to be an alumni of the department as are many on this committee. and it is fitting that the end of the obama doj was sally yates defying a president, refusing to follow the law, and giving the president no other choice but to relief her of her duties. i commend president trump for firing sally yates last night when an attorney general decides that her partisan political commitments are more important than following the law. that acting attorney general gives the president no choice but to relief them of their duties. and i would encourage this committee to move expeditiously and jeff sessions, someone we all know and respect, and someone whole be faithful to the law, faithful to the constitution, not following a political agenda, as sadly has been the record of eric hold earn loretta lynch and sally yates. but instead being faithful to his oath. to defend the constitution and defend the rule of law. with that, i yield the floor. >> mr. chairman, my understanding is that we are going to owe conclude 6 minutes from now at 2:00 p.m. >> yes. >> there is a suggestion by the chairman that senator