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US ATTORNEY GENERAL Jeff Sessions found himself in an increasingly untenable position yesterday, as President Donald Trump once again publicly skewered his top law enforcement official, calling him “VERY weak” and saying he is “disappointed”.
Sessions was one of Trump’s earliest and most loyal supporters, but the Republican billionaire has turned on him publicly in the past week, as rumours fly that the former senator from Alabama will be replaced.
Trump has openly criticised Sessions for recusing himself from overseeing a federal probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to meddle in the 2016 US presidential elections.
Yesterday, Trump berated Sessions over what he deemed insufficient efforts in pursuing intelligence leaks and for failing to go after former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton over her private email server.
In one trademark early morning tweetstorms, Trump said:
Later, he again said he was “disappointed” in Sessions and reiterated that had he known Sessions would remove himself from the Russia probe, he would not have hired him.
“He should not have recused himself almost immediately after he took office and, if he was going to recuse himself, he should have told me prior to taking office, and I would have quite simply picked somebody else,” Trump told reporters.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal Trump declined to say whether he planned to fire Sessions. When asked how long he planned to criticise Sessions without firing him, Trump said:
I’m just looking at it … I’ll just see. It’s a very important thing.
Decision ‘soon’
New White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders indicated that Trump was not going to change his mind, and her boss, communications director Anthony Scaramucci said, “We’ll get to a resolution soon”.
US presidents normally go to great pains to avoid being seen as influencing ongoing or possible investigations, making Trump’s attacks on Sessions all the more extraordinary.
With pressure mounting from the investigation led by special counsel and former FBI director Robert Mueller, Trump has sought to revive an election year controversy over Clinton’s use of a private server to send emails while secretary of state.
The Washington Post has reported that Trump’s team sees getting rid of Sessions as part of a potential strategy to fire Mueller and end the investigation.
Sessions, however, has said he has no plans to resign.
The website Axios reported that Trump was considering replacing Sessions with another early supporter, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani.
But Giuliani dismissed the report and said Sessions was right to have recused himself from the Russia probe, CNN reported.
On Monday, Trump had already wondered out loud why Sessions was not investigating Clinton.
The White House also alleged last week that the Democrats colluded with Ukraine during the 2016 campaign, adding another twist to the president’s counter-offensive.
In another early morning tweet on Tuesday, Trump said:
Kiev’s embassy in Washington refuted that claim, saying it didn’t help “any candidate” in the election.
‘Witch hunt’
Trump has expressed increasing anger with Sessions as his Justice Department’s investigations into possible Trump-Russia collusion has quickened.
Sessions recused himself because of his role on Trump’s campaign and because he failed to tell the Senate during his confirmation hearings about contacts he had with the Russian ambassador in Washington.
Yesterday, senior White House aide Kellyanne Conway said Sessions’ recusal had opened the door to what Trump sees as a “witch hunt.”
Trump’s eldest son, son-in-law and top aides have become entangled in the widening investigation led by Mueller.
Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and a top White House official, was questioned by lawmakers on Monday and yesterday. He was asked about contacts with then Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, a Russian financier and a Russian lawyer who offered dirt on Clinton.
Kushner made a statement on Monday denying collusion after testifying behind closed doors, insisting the string of undisclosed meetings with Russian officials were “proper.” Trump tweeted:
In May, Trump fired FBI director James Comey over the bureau’s investigation into Russia. That led to Mueller’s appointment as a special prosecutor.
Sessions’ onetime Republican colleagues in the Senate came to his defense, saying he showed good judgment in removing himself from the Russia probe.
“Jeff understands that we are a nation of laws, not men,” said Lindsey Graham.
Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer chimed in, “It’s clear that President Trump is trying to bully his own attorney general out of office. How can anyone draw a different conclusion?”
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I would think Sessions is not the only person in a week position, The president is clearly unhinged and mentally ill, with the lowest poll ratings ever, and has got no legislation through, it has gone to the stage he is dividing his own party.
@ktsiwot: if he sacks him do you think he will do it by Twitter?
@Gillian Weir Scully: His preference would be the reality show the apprentice, however he will have to settle for twitter.
@ktsiwot: If it wasn’t so entertaining it would be depressing. The man is TV gold. The media must be dreading the day they have to cover Mike Pence when he takes over. I bet they continue to cover Trump after he gets the road.
@ktsiwot: the Republican Party are getting everything they deserve and more… I hope this splits them right down the middle…
Trump thinks he’s on a TV show… tune in next week to find out what happens. the man is insane
@Shane Hickey: People knew that but their deep anger for the elites made them vote for him. They wanted him! So don’t always blame the poor fella.
@psychiatrist: Cannot get more elite than donald
@psychiatrist: I really dont understand the rationale of some people. “Im pish poor and I hate the elites”, ” il vote for DT he gets the working mans plight”. Gombeens
More deflection from Trump. To encourage people to forget about the help that Russia gave to his campaign, he claims Ukraine helped the Clinton campaign. Where is the evidence of that, and what were the specific outcomes of their help? There is absolutely nothing to suggest either. On the other hand, Russia’s help for the Trump campaign had very clear results, particularly with the timing of the email releases. And the outcomes for Russia since Trump took office are very clear. NATO is a very weakened position, sanctions on Russia and it’s oligarchs already reduced and the way being made clear to remove them altogether. Russia’s backing for Trump has certainly paid off. And unless Sessions has learned the Comey lesson, if he doesn’t deliver what Trump/Russia wants, and make this speculation go away, he will be gone very quickly.
@David Knight: I thought there was about to be a vote on tougher sanctions for Russia? Don’t think they’re likely to be removed.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/7/24/16019510/trump-republicans-russia-sanctions-bill
@Malachi: also haven’t they voted to remove power to reduce sanctions from the president?
@Dave O Keeffe: Both the Sanctions bill and the option to reduce Trumps ability to cancel sanctions are subject to Trump’s veto. Will he veto? The obvious answer is No, but nothing is obvious with Trump.
@David Knight: if he vetos he loses. He can’t lose the support of his party and the only way the bill gets to his desk is with his party’s backing
@Dave O Keeffe: Agree with this. Vetoing a GOP backed initiative does not look good.
Trump is getting more unhinged by the day. That speech to the boy scouts in particular was off the wall, I definitely think his mental health is deteriorating
The American people are not so sure about having Michael Pence as President given his very right wing views. Trump may be erratic and foolish but he is in the main ineffective with legislation.
Pence is a more worrying prospect as he knows hiw to work the system and get results…
Without Trump being president, it sure would put alot of journalist an political talk show hosts , without a job. An let’s not forget what he’s doing doesn’t effect the average person on there day to day lives. But let’s all pretend to feel important enough that it does.
@Jonathan Byrne: What a stupid thing to say “put political talk show hosts out of work?” Do you think all the news shows were created just for Trump?
And if you think what he’s doing does not affect Americans every day lives – where do I start. You dont know what you are talking about
@Dave Harris: I live in the USA , go to work have a wife, big house, think I’m doing a little better than scraping money for rent living in dublin, yeh of course this country has it’s problems but much easier to make a living if ya try.
@Jonathan Byrne: Good for you – but you still didn’t back up your assertion about journalists and talk show hosts being ‘out of a job’ without Trump.
Who exactly are you talking about? Even people who criticise Trump relentlessly (e.g. John Oliver) were working away well before Trump’s inauguration.
@Malachi: bill mahar, coulbert, an the rest of those headcases, I would say 90% of there material in the last year was about Trump, think they have over saturated the Trump thing long ago. My point is people think if Hillary was elected we’d be living in an euthopian society somehow, when realistically it would be pretty much the same, except for probably alot more murders going unnoticed.
@Jonathan Byrne: and they were all in their current jobs and performing well before that time. Good of you to be here commenting at what is 5am at the latest there.
@Jonathan Byrne: how does loosening gun laws not effect ordinary people? How does cutting 26 million normal people out of healthcare not effect normal people?
@Jonathan Byrne: Do you mean “utopian” or “EU” or “Ethiopian” society?
Is English your first language?
@Jonathan Byrne: ‘their’ not “there”
@Dave O Keeffe: well I don’t think about 26 million people out of health Care, I generally think about my family friends an of course me.
@Paul Lanigan: congratulations on my correction of my grammar, even though what I’m saying is clearly implied, I hope I didn’t get in your way, of your grandiose sense of intellectual superiority.. now that’s sarcasm.
@Jonathan Byrne: What are you on about? Where did anyone mention Hillary or a “euthopian” society? Never understood the need to bring her into everything – the election is over. I despise Hillary… that doesn’t change the fact that you’re dead wrong in your claim that Trump is keeping journalists/talk show hosts in a job.
Bill Maher? Are you serious? He has been running his Real Time w/ Bill Maher for ages now, it’s well over a decade at this stage. This delusion that these people wouldn’t have anything to talk about without Trump is just that – a delusion. Colbert has been running a long time too.
If anything Trump poses a massive threat to the media with his suggestion that he would change laws to restrict freedom of the press. That won’t do much for the journalistic profession…
@Malachi: ok calm down, all I’m saying is there’s a massive obsession with Trump, what will he do next etc, it gets very boring after awhile, I can only speak from my own perspective, and nothing has changed to effect me. You’d swear we were living in Europe in the 40′s , with the media installing irrationality an fear on a daily basis. All I’m saying is everything is gonna be alright, for those of us living in 1st world countries.
@Jonathan Byrne: did you see the RNC? That was instilling (that’s the word you were looking for) irrationality and fear with no factual basis. It was a scaremongering campaign that he kicked off by attacking the press and individual journalists by name at its launch event. Trump has on numerous occasions called for violence against his opponents and the press. Also, I wouldn’t be as proud as you are of being as selfish as you are. When you said earlier things don’t matter because they don’t effect average people in America what you really meant was it doesn’t matter because it doesn’t effect you personally.
@Jonathan Byrne: “all I’m saying is there’s a massive obsession with Trump, what will he do next”
You’d think he was the President of the free world, or something.
@Dave O Keeffe: exactly , why should I worry about things that don’t effect me personally, what a great waste of energy that would be. I’m quite content just worrying about the people who are important to me, it helps me get a good sleep,
@Malachi: you said it, Free world. It’s fantastic.
@Jonathan Byrne: Yeah, fu(k helping others, what a complete waste. As for sleep, the time on you comments given your time zone would make a liar of you on that. Exactly, free world so why are you trying to tell people what they should and shouldn’t be interested in.
F@€k all this shyte about ‘the American people voted for him and he’s the rightful President’ etc etc.
The despicable joke of a man has brought nothing but shame upon the US from DAY 1. Every single day of his presence in the role brings more of the same demented ego, self-serving petty vindictiveness and simple incompetence.
ANYONE who continues to support Trump now is either wilfully blind, only thinking of themselves and/or completely stupid.
Trump does not like the law or legal process inhibiting his capriciousness. Only a fool would now accept an appointment for Trump. Total devotion to the magnificent Orwellian leader, the glorious fuhrer, or its collect your personal effects time.
Seriously is it my imagination but over the last week or two has he gotten more mentally unstable? He is living in another universe….i also think he is incredibly stupid it baffles me how stupid this man is, but I don’t think he can help himself either, mentally it’s not in him.
Looks like Rex Tillerson could be on the brink of resiging now as well
@ianglen: I thought that recently also especially his speech to the Boy Scouts over the weekend was shocking.
@Gordon Jono Power: ridiculous, especially the fact that his opening line was that he wasn’t goinf to talk politics as it wasn’t the time or place
Sessions won’t be giving up his position as AG,that is a given,as he has his own agenda to finish.Another thing is that he also wouldn’t like to give up any position of power,seeing that he cannot go back to his old job as a Senator.
If that’s the only line in his repertoire, he has no choice but firing him.
Fire Jeff Sessions – the man is a backwards fool. America would be far better off without him
Then how is Trump going to get a replacement approved?
Trump is shooting himself in the foot once again
@Dave Harris: I agree that Sessions is a dinosaur and his policies are a backwards step but in reality I can’t understand how Trump can’t see that any member of his campaign would have had to recuse themselves as Sessions did. It wasn’t a matter of choice. Also, if he replaces Sessions, Mueller will still be doing his job unless the Senate decides otherwise and they are not with Trump on Sessions
Trump is a lunatic, he’s hiring someone few months ago, then wants to fire them. Lunatic, dangerous piece of despot.
His position is untenable but he should have some balls and resign instead, stick it to Donnie, but he won’t of course.
PS..Trump you might aswell divorce your Wife..Because in all fairness.She looks like Caitlyn Jenner..! Meh..
Unless ur tellin us he’s sacked or dead plz stop!!!
i spose it isnt important whether Trump fires his officials or not the important thing is is the AG or anyone else bound the serve the president or the truth or is he serving the people ultimately….threats to media or his administration or the opposition by Trump could this undermine fair play justice and the peoples right to due process
This Clown is firing everyone around him..I wonder when he will fire his lover boy Putin..! Oh wait.He can’t fire his master.! Can he.?
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