One of the harshest critics of Sen. Jeff Sessions’ nomination to become attorney general on civil rights grounds once heaped praise on him for his work to reduce prison sentences for crack-cocaine possession, a top priority for the black community and President Obama.

After President-elect Trump named the Alabama Republican as his choice to become the nation’s top law enforcer, Wade Henderson, the president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued a stinging statement demanding that Trump withdraw the nomination.