U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions hits back at Trump over Justice Department criticism

[webfact]

Sessions hits back at Trump over Justice Department criticism

By Doina Chiacu and Steve Holland

 

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions takes part in a Federal Commission on School Safety meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 16, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump drew a sharp rebuttal from his attorney general on Thursday after he gave a scathing assessment of Jeff Sessions as being unable to take control of the Justice Department.

 

Trump intensified his criticism of the Justice Department in a Fox News interview aired on Thursday as the White House grappled to respond to Tuesday's conviction of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort on multiple fraud counts and guilty plea by Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, that implicated the president.

 

The Republican president reprised a litany of complaints about the Justice Department and the FBI, attacking both without providing evidence they had treated him and his supporters unfairly.

 

Trump also renewed his criticism of Sessions, blaming him for what he called corruption at the Justice Department.

 

"I put in an attorney general who never took control of the Justice Department," Trump said.

 

Sessions, in a rare rebuttal to Trump, issued a statement defending the integrity of his department.

 

"I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in," he said. "... While I am attorney general, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations."

 

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll showed a slight drop in support among Republicans for Trump in the wake of the Manafort conviction and the Cohen plea.

 

The poll, conducted from Tuesday evening to Thursday, found that 78 percent of Republicans approved of Trump, down from 81 percent in a seven-day poll that ended on Monday.

 

Among Democrats, 11 percent said they approved of Trump, down from 15 percent in the earlier poll.

 

Overall, 37 percent of adults said they approved of Trump’s performance in office - down from 43 percent in the earlier poll.

Trump’s approval numbers have been relatively stable since he took office, when compared with his predecessors, and his popularity has not wavered much among Republicans.

 

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English throughout the United States. It gathered responses from 1,688 American adults, including 704 Democrats and 587 Republicans. It has a credibility interval, a measure of the poll’s precision, of 3 percentage points for the entire sample, 4 points for the Democrats and 5 points for the Republicans.

 

'A WOUNDED PUPPY'

Sessions, a longtime U.S. senator and early supporter of Trump's presidential bid, first drew Trump's ire when he recused himself in March 2017 from issues involving the 2016 White House race.

 

That removed him from oversight of the federal special counsel's investigation of Russia's role in the election and whether Trump's campaign worked with Moscow to influence the vote. Trump has repeatedly called the investigation a "witch hunt."

 

At the U.S. Capitol, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who is both close to Trump and a defender of Sessions, said he believed Trump would appoint a new attorney general but should wait until after Nov. 6 congressional elections.

 

A source close to Trump expressed doubt that Trump would fire Sessions before the elections but said Graham’s view that Sessions could go after the voting is a likely scenario.

 

“On a good day he (Sessions) is a wounded puppy,” the source said.

 

Trump told Fox that Sessions should not have recused himself from Russia-related matters.

 

"He took the job and then he said, 'I'm going to recuse myself,'" Trump said. "I said, 'What kind of a man is this?'"

 

However, Trump told "Fox & Friends" he would "stay uninvolved" in department matters.

 

Sessions was at the White House briefly on Thursday for a discussion on prison reform.

 

Senator John Cornyn, the upper chamber's second-ranking Republican, defended Sessions, a former Senate colleague, as an "honourable man" dedicated to the rule of law.

 

"I know this is a difficult position for him to be in but I think it would be bad for the country, it would be bad for the president, it would be bad for the Department of Justice for him to be forced out under these circumstances," Cornyn told reporters at the Capitol.

 

Trump told Fox News he respected Manafort for work he had done for prominent Republican politicians, adding that "some of the charges they threw against him, every consultant, every lobbyist in Washington probably does."

 

The Fox News reporter who interviewed Trump said on Wednesday that Trump told her he would consider pardoning Manafort.

 

But in the interview that aired on Thursday, Trump never said he was considering the pardon.

 

The Washington Post reported on Thursday that Trump had discussed a potential pardon during Manafort's trial with his lawyers but had been persuaded to wait until after the November elections.

 

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia hacked and leaked Democratic emails during the campaign as part of an effort to tilt the vote in Trump's favour. The Kremlin has denied the allegations, and Trump has denied any collusion.

Graphic: Indictments, convictions and pleas - https://tmsnrt.rs/2wcFMdx

 

(Additional reporting by Chris Kahn, Patricia Zengerle and Makini Brice; writing by James Oliphant; editing by Bill Trott and Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-08-24

[sirineou]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

"I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in," he said. "... While I am attorney general, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations."

Though I don't agree with his politics I have to respect the man's integrity.

I wish he applied that integrity in a more compassionate way, but even if IMO someone is wrong, I appreciate intellectual integrity even at being wrong.

[mtls2005]

Grasseley and Graham indicated a willingness to support tRUmp's move to fire Sessions.

 

No clue who'd they replace him with?

 

And Rosenstein would also presumably get fired? And the firing would continue until tRUmp can find a temporary replacement to fire Mueller.

 

But I'm not sure he can fire/pardon his way out of the jar of pickles he's in?

[Nickymaster]

Trump rules the US like a dictator.  Do what I say and if you get caught I pardon you. If you don't obey my orders I will destroy your life and career. 

 

 

[PatOngo]

Go for the jugular, Jeff...…..he may even pay you off to be quiet!

[Thakkar]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in," he said. "... While I am attorney general, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations."

 

 

Lets be clear, the man is not about honorable principles. He doesnt want to be fired because he doesnt want to be interrupted in his important work of disenfranchising minority voters.

[Thakkar]

Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich)

8/24/18, 12:28 AM

Jeff Sessions def didn't sign up for any of this bullshit. all he ever wanted to do was deny black people the right to vote and throw immigrant babies in cages and maybe wear his Klan robes late at night when no one else was around

[Small Joke]

If 'Evil Yoda' here gets fired by Trump, I'll wear a MAGA ball cap go nude on the BTS.

[mtls2005]

I follow Jefferson Beauregard Session III on Twitter...

 

https://twitter.com/KeeblerElves

[Small Joke]

So once again, "U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia hacked and leaked Democratic emails during the campaign as part of an effort to tilt the vote in Trump's favour." 

Can ANY Republican explain why they stay resolutely silent about Russian involvement (Trump and Hillary aside, you understand) in the electoral process of the United States of America?

Can we dare imagine the flag-hugging that would be going on right now if it were ANY Democrat POTUS in the same position?

Do you really hate the Democrats so much that you now tacitly support Russia, and dismiss your own spooks findings, by your silence?

Amazing!

[Tug]

Sessions is a flawed man but not as sick as trump I wish he had the courage to tell trump no on some of his more racist outburst but I’m afaraid they are cast from the same cloth they are not the heart and soul of America not by a long shot!

[mtls2005]

59 minutes ago, Thakkar said:

maybe wear his Klan robes late at night

 

He can still buy his robes in a children's size on KlanKlothing.Kom

 

"I'm confused, are the bags on or off?" 

 

Bag Head #2 (Jonah Hill) in one of the funniest scenes in Django Unchained.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Berkshire]

2 hours ago, Tug said:

Sessions is a flawed man but not as sick as trump I wish he had the courage to tell trump no on some of his more racist outburst but I’m afaraid they are cast from the same cloth they are not the heart and soul of America not by a long shot!

About the ONLY good thing Sessions has done since taking over as AG is recuse himself from the Russia investigation.  But it is good of him to finally grow a spine.  Wish I can say the same for his Republican colleagues in the Congress. 

[Guest]

Looks like the winds are finally changing. This is from Fox News.

Michael Cohen's guilty plea: Hush money timeline

http://video.foxnews.com/v/5825528440001/?#sp=show-clips

 

[Small Joke]

30 minutes ago, oilinki said:

Looks like the winds are finally changing. This is from Fox News.

Michael Cohen's guilty plea: Hush money timeline

http://video.foxnews.com/v/5825528440001/?#sp=show-clips

 

Lanny Davis on Fox saying Trump committed a crime.

The left-liberal Guardian saying Trump cannot be indicted in office, and is unlikely to be impeached, or even indicted post POTUS.

I'm more confused than ever!

[mtls2005]

Corker: Sessions ‘owns’ Trump until he’s fired

 

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) on Thursday evening became the latest senator to predict that President Trump will fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions after November’s midterm elections.

 

Corker told Politico that he felt that “moves are being made” to bring about Sessions’s ouster from the Department of Justice.

 

“It’s very apparent to me that the president wants to do something to Attorney General Sessions. But it’s also apparent that in the interim that Sessions owns him,” Corker said.

 

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/403385-corker-sessions-owns-trump-until-hes-fired

[Thaidream]

Trump did commit a crime and it has nothing to do with his infidelity- it is his payments of hush money which is a campaign violation.  However, the real issue involves the Russian investigation and if Trump is legitimately President.  All intelligence agencies have indicated the Russians meddled- but how much and to what extent and was there any collusion within the Trump campaign and did Trump know it?  This investigation must go to its conclusion.

 

Whether Trump will be impeached or not depends upon the results of the November election and whether Dems retake the House and/or Senate.  A Democrat House and Senate is much more prone to start impeachment proceedings.  However a conviction to Impeach is much harder to get. The Senate vote would have to be 67 to convict and that would need Republican support.

 

I would rather see a joint Republican and Democrat group of senior leaders go directly to Trump with evidence in hand and lay it out- Trump resign or not seek re-election and he can say due to health reasons and he will be allowed to fade into History. However, if Trump chooses to stay on or seek re-election- both Dems and Repubs will seek impeachment and conviction and remove him or if he seeks re-election  Trumps son; daughter ; and  son in law will all be indicted and be sent to prison (assuming the evidence exists and I think it does).

 

Trump loves to bargain and negotiate and this would be his greatest negotiation- save yourself and your family or the entire Governmental apparatus will came after you.(Don't forget Trump has made enemies of the CIA; the NSA; FBI; and the Justice Department- all the organs of Government that  control  a person's fate)  Trump can leave with his family intact; his money secured; and some dignity left. 

 

America votes and gets a new President -Republican or Democrat and moves onto the next phase in its History.

 

Think it hasn't been done before-  Richard Nixon and Watergate- Nixon resigned because the Government apparatus had him and he knew it)

[Berkshire]

8 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

Trump loves to bargain and negotiate and this would be his greatest negotiation- save yourself and your family or the entire Governmental apparatus will came after you.(Don't forget Trump has made enemies of the CIA; the NSA; FBI; and the Justice Department- all the organs of Government that  control  a person's fate)  Trump can leave with his family intact; his money secured; and some dignity left. 

 

America votes and gets a new President -Republican or Democrat and moves onto the next phase in its History.

 

Think it hasn't been done before-  Richard Nixon and Watergate- Nixon resigned because the Government apparatus had him and he knew it)

Certainly possible scenario that Trump would resign to save his guilty ass.  If Trump does step down because Mueller has the goods on him, then Pence would become President...and they would work out a deal where Pence immediately pardons Trump.  Unless Pence is somehow implicated.  Then the President would be the Speaker of the House.  What's interesting is if the Dems win the House in November, then the next President could be....Pelosi.   

[Thaidream]

If Trump resigns-  Pence becomes President and pardons Trump.  Pelosi would only become President if she is the next Speaker and both Trump and Pence resign or are impeached/convicted.  Seriously doubt Pence has any involvement in Trump's actions.  Vice Presidents have little real power and Trump would never let him into his 'inner circle'.

[mtls2005]

8 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

If Trump resigns-  Pence becomes President and pardons Trump.  Pelosi would only become President if she is the next Speaker and both Trump and Pence resign or are impeached/convicted.  Seriously doubt Pence has any involvement in Trump's actions.  Vice Presidents have little real power and Trump would never let him into his 'inner circle'.

 

A lot of names get floated for potential Pence 46s half-time injury replacement VP. Some are whacky, but maybe Paul Ryan, Ben Sasse, Nikki Hayley, Lisa Murkowski, Marco Rubio?

 

 

 

 

I wonder why Paul Manafort pushed so hard for Mike Pence as VP - he faked some aircraft problem so tRUmp could spend an extra day with Pence in Indiana?

 

Maybe Pence was Putin's preferred option?

 

 

 

 

[sirineou]

 "You know the only reason I gave him the job? Because I felt loyalty, he was an original supporter. "

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45286906

 

I thought he only hired "the best people" . Did this idiot just admitted to nepotism? 

 

[Thaidream]

Trump likes people who support him; listen to him; are loyal and don't question his motives.  The problem is that when things start going badly Trump will throw them under the bus to save his rear end.  Trump thought Sessions was a good pick because he was a simple good old Southern boy who Trump figured he could manipulate.  However, Sessions was smart enough to know what Trump was after and recused himself from the investigatio- rather than become a scapegoat for Trump.

 

Trump's real worry is the Deep State- these are the men and women who are Government workers and do all the research; dig up all the information; follow leads and spend time on projects.  Trump thinks these people are from the Obama Admin and against him but he is very wrong.  These people are permanent employees of the US Government who really don't care per se who is President because presidents come and go but they remain.

 

Trump has even managed to irritate these people. These are the ones who will be tracking Trump's visits to Russia prior to his being President. They will be getting the flight records and the Immigration records.  These are the people who will be able to get Trump's tax records and see who he does business with. These are also the people who can get his credit card statements and view his bank records.  They feed all this information to the Mueller investigation and the Mueller team will put it all together piece by piece.

 

Trump fear Mueller because Mueller has the power to take him down/

 

[LomSak27]

Always fun watching the rats when the ship starts taking on water. All that fake camaraderie and 'I got your back',  claptrap shtick, goes right out the window. These guys would will sell grandmothers, daughters or gay lovers to Russian darknet organ transplant supply co, in a heartbeat. Soon enough they will be throwing each other out of the lifeboat into the piranha swamp. 

I should have bought that Costco 48 count microwave popcorn box.    

[TGIR]

There was a time when I enjoyed watching CNN.  My wife and I voted twice for Obama and were so happy he won the first time I actually cried a little bit.  Then along came Trump and we laughed.....I had never held him in anything but contempt.  Boy, was I wrong.  In the past two years we've learned Obama wasn't who we thought he was and Trump exactly the same but for exactly opposite reasons.  Obama, the Clintons and much of Washington were leading us all down the primrose path to Socialism, pure and simple......and we were happily marching along.  If it werent' for Donald Trump and the realization by 63 million Americans that he wasn't a colorful fool, America would be so far down the wong path today it would be impossible to recover.  It may, in fact, actually be too late now.  Today I read that a popular institution of learning has banned "snowballs" on campus because someone might get hurt.........really???? Conservatives are now largely considered heretics in America's Universities and Colleges.  They are being attacked all over the country just for daring to breathe the same air as oh so intelligent liberal zealots.......Antifa, who by all rights should be the scourge of the earth, are largely ignored and allowed to terrorize whomever they choose, seemingly at will.  It looks like this "game" will come down to the fourth quarter......the 2018 election.  If the Republicans can hold on to the House we have a chance......if not, America, you can kiss your ass goodbye.  Rant over.

[bristolboy]

2 minutes ago, TGIR said:

There was a time when I enjoyed watching CNN.  My wife and I voted twice for Obama and were so happy he won the first time I actually cried a little bit.  Then along came Trump and we laughed.....I had never held him in anything but contempt.  Boy, was I wrong.  In the past two years we've learned Obama wasn't who we thought he was and Trump exactly the same but for exactly opposite reasons.  Obama, the Clintons and much of Washington were leading us all down the primrose path to Socialism, pure and simple......and we were happily marching along.  If it werent' for Donald Trump and the realization by 63 million Americans that he wasn't a colorful fool, America would be so far down the wong path today it would be impossible to recover.  It may, in fact, actually be too late now.  Today I read that a popular institution of learning has banned "snowballs" on campus because someone might get hurt.........really???? Conservatives are now largely considered heretics in America's Universities and Colleges.  They are being attacked all over the country just for daring to breathe the same air as oh so intelligent liberal zealots.......Antifa, who by all rights should be the scourge of the earth, are largely ignored and allowed to terrorize whomever they choose, seemingly at will.  It looks like this "game" will come down to the fourth quarter......the 2018 election.  If the Republicans can hold on to the House we have a chance......if not, America, you can kiss your ass goodbye.  Rant over.

Yeah, sure, you were a supporter of Obama and you voted for him twice. Given your general political views, this is simply not believable.

[TGIR]

1 minute ago, bristolboy said:

Yeah, sure, you were a supporter of Obama and you voted for him twice. Given your general political views, this is simply not believable.

 

I don't know why it's unbelievable or why I should care what you think.......I have read quite a few remarks from people who did the same thing.  And, since you don't know me from Adam, how would you have any idea of what my general political views are?

[bristolboy]

3 minutes ago, TGIR said:

 

I don't know why it's unbelievable or why I should care what you think.......I have read quite a few remarks from people who did the same thing.  And, since you don't know me from Adam, how would you have any idea of what my general political views are?

Your general political views are apparent from what you wrote. Such as:

"Obama, the Clintons and much of Washington were leading us all down the primrose path to Socialism, pure and simple......and we were happily marching along."

 

[TGIR]

It's called waking up to reality.....

[mikebike]

3 minutes ago, TGIR said:

 

I don't know why it's unbelievable or why I should care what you think.......I have read quite a few remarks from people who did the same thing.  And, since you don't know me from Adam, how would you have any idea of what my general political views are?

Well we do know that Hillary and Obama are thru-to-the-core corporate establishment shills. Centrist democrats closer to traditional republicans than any form of socialism.

 

Hillary and Obama couldn't move away from true democratic socialists like Bernie and Ocasio-Cortez fast enough.

 

You may want to reeducate yourself on political philosophy and where the two US political parties sit in the realm of global geopolitics. (Hint - it isn't anywhere near "socialism".)

[TGIR]

Thanks, but from now on I'll stick to watching the funny stuff on YouTube.......I'm too old for this crap.