Trump Says He Regrets Appointing Jeff Sessions

Oh, boy.

On Wednesday, President Trump tweeted regret over having named Jeff Sessions as his attorney general.

A New York Times story Tuesday said the President told Sessions in 2017 to “reverse” his decision to remove himself from the Russia collusion probe.

On CBS This Morning Wednesday, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C. was asked if Trump’s suggestion to Sessions could be considered obstruction of justice. Gowdy was disinclined to affirm:

“I don’t think so. I think what the president is doing is expressing frustration that Attorney General Sessions should have shared these reasons for recusal before he took the job, not afterward. If I were the president and I picked someone to be the country’s chief law enforcement officer, and they told me later, ‘Oh, by the way, I’m not going to be able to participate in the most important case in the office,’ I would be frustrated too.”

And then came the hook:

“And that’s how I read that. ‘Sen. Sessions, why didn’t you tell me this before I picked you?’ Look, there are lots of really good lawyers in the country. He could have picked somebody else.”

The Donald grabbed that one and ran — or, swam —  with it:

….There are lots of really good lawyers in the country, he could have picked somebody else!” And I wish I did!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2018

Yikes.

Jeff Sessions was the first U.S. senator to support Trump in his run for the presidency, but things soured after he was made the AG.

According to the Times, the President “berated” Sessions in 2017, just after he had recused himself from the Russia investigation. The Times article suggests the incident may be reason for Robert Mueller to charge Trump with obstruction.

Trump and Sessions haven’t exactly been having slumber parties together over the last year:

So why aren’t the Committees and investigators, and of course our beleaguered A.G., looking into Crooked Hillarys crimes & Russia relations?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2017

Why didn’t A.G. Sessions replace Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, a Comey friend who was in charge of Clinton investigation but got….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017

Trump has publicly nudged Sessions to investigate the Obama administration, Democrats, and the FBI:

Question: If all of the Russian meddling took place during the Obama Administration, right up to January 20th, why aren’t they the subject of the investigation? Why didn’t Obama do something about the meddling? Why aren’t Dem crimes under investigation? Ask Jeff Sessions!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2018

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

In response to that last scolding, Sessions finally spoke up:

“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.”

Nevertheless, the President has made no move to replace him:

Do you believe that the Fake News Media is pushing hard on a story that I am going to replace A.G. Jeff Sessions with EPA Chief Scott Pruitt, who is doing a great job but is TOTALLY under siege? Do people really believe this stuff? So much of the media is dishonest and corrupt!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 6, 2018

Donald Trump is no stranger to conflict. In fact, he appears at points to enjoy it. He places people in positions, seemingly so he can battle them. It is at times fascinating, and at others tiring. Either he likes the fight, or he is constantly frustrated that some will not acquiesce. Perhaps this is the sign of a good leader, who will struggle for their vision. Or maybe it is the action of a man who wasn’t made for the bureaucracy. He is, after all, a king who moved into the position of a moving part of a whole. Either way, he certainly provides all the going-on a political spectator could hope for. And if Trey Gowdy is right — and there are no obstruction charges in Trump’s future — we’ll all have plenty more to watch, for at least the next three years.

For a look at a Trump victory through the eyes of a critic, check out my Ian Bremmer article. And for more Trey Gowdy, here’s a piece covering his takedown of James Comey.

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