This is unprecedented. We’ve seen Donald Trump criticize his Attorney General before, but we don’t think in the history of our country we’ve ever seen a President call someone he appointed “DISGRACEFUL” in print. Remember this is a remark that will go into the national archives.
Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse. Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc. Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2018
Sessions said yesterday that he had asked the inspector general of the Justice Department to look into alleged abuses of surveillance warrants by FISA judges. But this is more about venting, and the Attorney General is Donald Trump’s main vent-ee. The President has expressed his annoyance with Sessions before on Twitter, as recently as last week. As CNN reported, “Trump has nursed a sour relationship with Sessions ever since the attorney general recused himself from all investigations into the 2016 campaign.” This tweet though just feels a little different, a little more blatant.
Despite all the criticism Sessions has received from his boss, he has remained loyal. He even praises Trump whenever he gets the chance, but it’s looking more and more like his days may be numbered. The Conservative editor of The Weekly Standard Bill Kristol says Trump is putting out tweets like this to put the pressure on Sessions to walk away from his job.
Trump is scared simply to fire Sessions, but desperately wants Sessions to quit so Trump can put someone else in there who could shut down or curb Mueller. I hope Sessions resists the temptation to resign. He should make Trump fire him if Trump has the nerve. https://t.co/Qf3iR6G5kL
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) February 28, 2018
Others think Sessions is just Trump’s punching bag when he’s unhappy. You do have to wonder would Trump ever tweet something like about Chief of Staff John Kelly or Defense Secretary James Mattis (both former generals).
Jeff Sessions is the dog Trump kicks when he's frustrated about how things are going at work.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) February 28, 2018
Jeff Sessions released a statement Wednesday afternoon:
“As long as I am the Attorney General, I will continue to discharge my duties with integrity and honor, and this Department will continue to do its work in a fair and impartial manner according to the law and Constitution”