Trump accuses Sessions of hurting U.S. Republican congressional races

[webfact]

Trump accuses Sessions of hurting U.S. Republican congressional races

By Michelle Price and David Shepardson

 

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions listens as President Donald Trump holds a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, U.S., August 16, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday launched a fresh attack on Attorney General Jeff Sessions, accusing him of jeopardizing the chances of re-election for two Republican congressmen by bringing criminal charges against them just before the midterm elections.

 

Trump wrote on Twitter the Justice Department's decision to file charges will hurt safe Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

 

Election analysts believe there is a 50 percent chance the Democratic Party will take control of the House, in which all 435 seats are up for grabs in the Nov. 6 elections. Republicans currently hold a 236-193 advantage and there are six vacant seats.

 

"Two long running, Obama era, investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department," the Republican president wrote. "Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff...."

 

Justice Department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores declined to comment on Trump's tweets, which did not name the congressmen.

 

On Aug. 8, Congressman Christopher Collins, a Republican who was candidate Trump's first supporter in the House, was charged with participating in an insider trading scheme involving an Australian biotechnology company on whose board he served. Collins has denied wrongdoing but will not seek re-election.

 

Despite Trump's claim that both investigations began under Democratic President Barack Obama, Collins was charged over trades in June 2017 - nearly six months after Trump took office.

 

On Aug. 23, Republican Representative Duncan Hunter was indicted on charges that he and his wife used hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds to pay for vacations, video games and other personal expenses and filed false campaign finance reports, federal officials said.

 

Hunter, the second congressman to back Trump for the White House, has denied wrongdoing, and a recent poll put him in the lead for the election. The Hunter investigation began under Obama.

 

The unorthodox presidential attack brought criticism from Republican Senator Ben Sasse.

 

"The United States is not some banana republic with a two-tiered system of justice – one for the majority party and one for the minority party. These two men have been charged with crimes because of evidence, not because of who the president was when the investigations began," Sasse said in a statement.

 

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, a Democrat, questioned Trump's comments and whether they were legal.

 

"He's not hiding how he views the law, law enforcement, of justice. In his world they swore an oath to him, not (the) constitution and laws," Schatz wrote on Twitter.

 

The president has repeatedly attacked Sessions for recusing himself from an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign. After the recusal, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Special Counsel Robert Mueller to lead the probe, which Trump calls a "witch hunt."

 

Last week, Trump told Bloomberg the attorney general was safe in his job until November but declined to say if he would keep Sessions in the role beyond then.

 

The president has repeatedly denied there was any collusion between his campaign and Moscow. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded Russia tried to help Trump win the 2016 election, but the Kremlin denies meddling.

 

(Reporting by Michelle Price; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Sandra Maler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-04

 

[Samui Bodoh]

"...Trump wrote on Twitter the Justice Department's decision to file charges will hurt safe Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives..."

 

When the leader of a country is whingeing about criminal charges simply because they were brought against members of his own party, then the country has descended into third-world, banana republic territory.

 

It is truly sad and depressing to see Trump desecrate a fine and proud nation...

 

 

 

Edited September 3, 2018 by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

[Jingthing]

That's what you get when you elect such a ridiculous authoritarian buffoon. "trump" fans were warned. He told us what he is. He's nothing like a real American president. At his convention he barked "I alone can fix it" and the reckless "trump" fans went for it like other suckers for strong man anti-democracy leaders throughout history. His the press is the enemy of the people is also classic dictator garbage. The USA has ceded it's global leadership now.

 

Yes, the midterms are super important. "trump" can be checked then by delivering the house to the democrats. Failing that, forget American democracy. People will have confirmed they don't want that anymore. 

 

 

Quote

This is an astonishing thing to have to say about an American president, but Trump is taking a page from the playbook of totalitarian dictators: Believe only me. Reality is what I say it is. Anyone who claims otherwise is an Enemy of the People .

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-trump-is-so-frantic-right-now/2018/09/01/26c7f816-ad52-11e8-b1da-ff7faa680710_story.html?utm_term=.7e55f4ac0aa5

 

Edited September 4, 2018 by Jingthing

[Esso49]

37 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...Trump wrote on Twitter the Justice Department's decision to file charges will hurt safe Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives..."

 

When the leader of a country is whingeing about criminal charges simply because they were brought against members of his own party, then the country has descended into third-world, banana republic territory.

 

It is truly sad and depressing to see Trump desecrate a fine and proud nation...

 

 

 

But Banana republics' usually have a quick way  of deposing a corrupt and/or unbalanced leader. 

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, Esso49 said:

But Banana republics' usually have a quick way  of deposing a corrupt and/or unbalanced leader. 

Not always. Dictators in Banana Republics often rule for life. 

 

As "trump" commands it's not the rule of law, it's the rule of "trump" but there is still time to stop him but not as much time as people think. 

Edited September 4, 2018 by Jingthing

[The Snark]

Trump, or better put Trumpism, is the product of a diseased democracy. He is aptly demonstrating the flaw in the system. A game show host and a fan base that doesn't care what he says. The present situation in the US, a gigantic tailgate party.

 

Speaking as a native, welcome to our world, rational thinking US citizens.

Edited September 4, 2018 by The Snark
Korrected sum werds

[mtls2005]

What's most strange about this tweet, and it was a long, long, long weekend of strange tweets, is the timing. Collins was indicted nearly four weeks ago, and Hunter was indicted two weeks ago.

 

Did Fox News cover these stories over the Labor Day weekend in some, new revelatory fashion?

 

At this point, I can't think of a thing he could write on Twitter which would surprise me...a confession, a resignation, an imminent launch, his defection to Russia.

 

 

[neeray]

20 minutes ago, The Snark said:

Trump, or better put Trumpism, is the product of a diseased democracy. He is aptly demonstrating the flaw in the system. A game show host and a fan base that doesn't care what he says. The present situation in the US, a gigantic tailgate party.

 

Speaking as a native, welcome to our world, mainstream US citizens.

"a gigantic tailgate party". This is an awesome description. Wish it could spread in USA like a wild fire. Please note that I tried to emphasize it in Buffoon Orange.

[Chomper Higgot]

31 minutes ago, The Snark said:

Trump, or better put Trumpism, is the product of a diseased democracy. He is aptly demonstrating the flaw in the system. A game show host and a fan base that doesn't care what he says. The present situation in the US, a gigantic tailgate party.

 

Speaking as a native, welcome to our world, rational thinking US citizens.

The tailgate party is for the GOP.

 

The behaviour of Republican Congressmen and a few Republican Senators in their support for Trump’s attacks on the Judiciary, the Press, Minorities, US allies and his support for Putin can only be logically explained if they too are implicated in the crimes that got him elected.

 

 

[The Snark]

20 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The tailgate party is for the GOP.

Only in the short term. Unless, of course, the rule of law gets entirely usurped.

[neeray]

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The tailgate party is for the GOP.

 

The behaviour of Republican Congressmen and a few Republican Senators in their support for Trump’s attacks on the Judiciary, the Press, Minorities, US allies and his support for Putin can only be logically explained if they too are implicated in the crimes that got him elected.

 

 

I think of 'The tailgate party" as a term that properly describes the whole bunch; those noted above and those who voted for Trump or support him. A bunch of rednecks hanging out the box of a pickup sucking on a bottle, nothing but BS between their ears, just a bunch of sheep.

 

On a private note, I have a brother who moved to the USA a couple decades ago. That's fine bro, no problem with that.  A couple years ago, he uttered the words to me that he and wife are "die-hard republicans". No problem with that either. But when he cheered Trump on, now I have a problem. Being that he is a bully like Trump, I guess I can understand. Haven't talked to him in a couple years but my guess is that he is still a Trumpster, despite all Trump's many faults.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, The Snark said:

Only in the short term. Unless, of course, the rule of law gets entirely usurped.

On the evidence presented so far, the rule of law is, despite Trump’s best efforts, thriving.

[The Snark]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

On the evidence presented so far, the rule of law is, despite Trump’s best efforts, thriving.

Speaking as a cop, it hasn't been yet. Close but no cigar.

 

On an interesting note, on the restricted police forums there is a huge debate raging: Trump holds a rally, the people at the rally go out and riot. Trump has incited a riot. Can he be arrested? Or, will the officers who observed the criminal act be charged with dereliction of duty by not arresting him.

It is difficult as this operates on two levels. If a criminal act is observed, -any- citizen of the US can be arrested according to the law. Can he be prosecuted is another matter. This is throwing the law enforcement community into a tail spin. Rock and the hard place. When is a cop not a cop?

 

On my honor, I will never
betray my badge, my integrity,
my character or the public trust.
I will always have the courage to hold
myself and others accountable for our actions.
I will always uphold the
constitution, my community, and the
agency I serve.

[alanrchase]

It seems that this is a bridge too far for the forum Trump supporters to defend.

[neeray]

1 hour ago, neeray said:

I think of 'The tailgate party" as a term that properly describes the whole bunch; those noted above and those who voted for Trump or support him. A bunch of rednecks hanging out the box of a pickup sucking on a bottle, nothing but BS between their ears, just a bunch of sheep.

 

On a private note, I have a brother who moved to the USA a couple decades ago. That's fine bro, no problem with that.  A couple years ago, he uttered the words to me that he and wife are "die-hard republicans". No problem with that either. But when he cheered Trump on, now I have a problem. Being that he is a bully like Trump, I guess I can understand. Haven't talked to him in a couple years but my guess is that he is still a Trumpster, despite all Trump's many faults.

 

 

Yes, I was thinking about you and JAZZDOG and BuaBS and a few other tRumpsters when I entered this.

Thanks for the reaction.

[Bluespunk]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Two long running, Obama era, investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department," the Republican president wrote. "Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff...."

Well, that’s not true. One of those charged was indicted for offences committed under your regime. 

 

But hey, why bother with facts when your goal is to undermine the rule of law in an attempt to win at all costs. 

Edited September 4, 2018 by Bluespunk

[Tug]

Donald is having the gangsters wet dream that the doj works for him if he could just read and understand the constitution he would know it’s just not so poor Donald just gotta lash out and blame someone guess Jeff Sessions gets it this time lol

[spidermike007]

There is a noxious scent of sulphur, fear and guilt emanating from the White House at the moment, and the "very stable genius" appears to be incredibly unstable, and unhinged. He was already clinically insane. Now? 

 

Though he constantly brags about his tough he is, we all know that he is showing signs of being alot weaker than we hoped he was. He is coming unglued. He is having a very hard time dealing with the indictments, the betrayals, and the exodus of talent. And it does not help his cause that he has surrounded himself with such an astonishing lack of talent and brains, and alot of sycophantic fools. 

 

We have a game show host, who got five deferments, when it was time to serve his nation, who has the most lawsuits ever, against any person in the history of mankind (3,600 at the time he entered office), who has crippled thousand of families of small contractors, and bankrupted five major companies, all in the name of amassing as much cash as he could get his very greedy, very small hands on. And this is the same guy who talks so widely, and so loudly about patriotism. Yet, when he met Putin in Helsinki, he threw the entire intelligence community (nearly 30 agencies employing over 1,000,000 highly qualified people) of his nation under the bus, in order to score a few sycophantic brownie points with his blackmailer friend. 

 

And we wonder why the country is in the state it is in? He has no principals, nor any vision. He is perhaps the most dangerous man on the planet right now as it appears he is trying to lower the quality of life, for everyone on earth, and his policies are making both America and the world less great, and more dangerous. Of course McCain is right about undermining American values. Tiny Don has no values. None whatsoever. He is completely amoral. Completely lacking in ethics of any sort.

 

Thankfully, he will not remain in office for more than 12 more months. Resignation, impeachment, or prison, are in his future, and many of us will be very, very thankful for that. 

 

Tiny DT. The art of moving America backwards, and lowering the quality of life for the average American. 

The art of I cannot make a deal to save my life. 

The art of losing talent in droves, and replacing them with sycophantic fools, devoid of talent or experience. 

The art of attempting to lead a nation, while being infected with the thinnest skin of a world leader, in history. 

The art of not having a diplomatic bone in his body, and destroying long held alliances, with hate, hubris and a horrible lack of intelligence, vision and talent.

[Redline]

He doesn’t deserve to be American.  Send orange head small hands to Siberia 

[Becker]

Have we seen the man-child say something even his most base supporters can't defend? I don't think so, Boon Mee should be around shortly to explain why this is a good thing..

[stevenl]

1 minute ago, Becker said:

Have we seen the man-child say something even his most base supporters can't defend? I don't think so, Boon Mee should be around shortly to explain why this is a good thing..

Because they need a majority in Congress and the House, so PT can MAGA.

That's why his supporters don't care, anything goes. Think about Trump's own words about shooting someone on 5th avenue.

[puck2]

6 minutes ago, Becker said:

Have we seen the man-child say something even his most base supporters can't defend? I don't think so, Boon Mee should be around shortly to explain why this is a good thing..

Impossible! Facts???  Boon Mee  only repeats propaganda slogans, again and again.

[alanrchase]

Just had an idea for a cartoon. Trump sat on a chair with a keg of gunpowder a few feet away. The keg is labeled USA (maybe US justice?) with a big American flag on it as well. Trump is holding a box of matches labelled GOP and is striking them and tossing the lit matches at the keg. The base of the keg is littered with burnt out matches.

[mlmcleod]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"The United States is not some banana republic with a two-tiered system of justice – one for the majority party and one for the minority party. These two men have been charged with crimes because of evidence, not because of who the president was when the investigations began," Sasse said in a statement.

Trump truly believes that everything done by or during Obama's presidency was politically motivated to injure the Republican party.  

 

Sadly for him, Sessions was not quite the political hack that he assumed!  

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

He's nothing like a real American president.

Soooooo, what's a real American President like then. A womaniser like Kennedy and Clinton, someone that racks up trillions of debt like Obama, or someone that starts wars based on erroneous information like Bush? Or perhaps, someone that was just not very good, like Carter.

Back to the OP; Sessions must know that he's gone as soon as the elections are over. He should retain whatever dignity he has left by resigning now. He's been worse than bad, given he recused himself almost the moment he walked in the door. Even a bad AG can support his boss against internal foes, but Sessions just hasn't been there at all while Trump has been attacked from all sides. Perhaps he was a Trojan horse.

[thaibeachlovers]

35 minutes ago, Becker said:

Have we seen the man-child say something even his most base supporters can't defend? I don't think so, Boon Mee should be around shortly to explain why this is a good thing..

Nothing to defend. it's just politics as usual.

[bristolboy]

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Soooooo, what's a real American President like then. A womaniser like Kennedy and Clinton, someone that racks up trillions of debt like Obama, or someone that starts wars based on erroneous information like Bush? Or perhaps, someone that was just not very good, like Carter.

Back to the OP; Sessions must know that he's gone as soon as the elections are over. He should retain whatever dignity he has left by resigning now. He's been worse than bad, given he recused himself almost the moment he walked in the door. Even a bad AG can support his boss against internal foes, but Sessions just hasn't been there at all while Trump has been attacked from all sides. Perhaps he was a Trojan horse.

If Trump had nothing to hide, this wouldn't be a question of internal foes. The AG is not an employee of the President. 

[alanrchase]

10 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Soooooo, what's a real American President like then. A womaniser like Kennedy and Clinton, someone that racks up trillions of debt like Obama, or someone that starts wars based on erroneous information like Bush? Or perhaps, someone that was just not very good, like Carter.

Back to the OP; Sessions must know that he's gone as soon as the elections are over. He should retain whatever dignity he has left by resigning now. He's been worse than bad, given he recused himself almost the moment he walked in the door. Even a bad AG can support his boss against internal foes, but Sessions just hasn't been there at all while Trump has been attacked from all sides. Perhaps he was a Trojan horse.

Perhaps this is what happens when you appoint an AG on the basis of the nice things he says about you instead of his qualifications? 

[thaibeachlovers]

7 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

If Trump had nothing to hide, this wouldn't be a question of internal foes. The AG is not an employee of the President. 

LOL. The AG is a political appointment and serves at the pleasure of the president, who can sack him for whatever cause.

[attrayant]

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

LOL. The AG is a political appointment and serves at the pleasure of the president, who can sack him for whatever cause.

 

Does Trump pay his salary?