Democrats warn Trump after Attorney General Sessions forced out

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Democrats warn Trump after Attorney General Sessions forced out

By Sarah N. Lynch

 

FILE PHOTO: Under a portrait of former President Andrew Jackson, U.S. President Donald Trump (L) congratulates Jeff Sessions after he was sworn in as U.S. Attorney General during a ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., February 9, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The ouster of Attorney General Jeff Sessions by President Donald Trump on Wednesday drew sharp criticism from Democrats, who warned Trump against moving to squash a probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

 

The probe, led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller under the supervision of the Justice Department, has clouded the Trump presidency. The president had long complained about Sessions recusing himself from supervising Mueller.

 

Democrats raised concerns about Sessions' acting replacement, Matthew Whitaker, who now oversees Mueller and once argued Mueller's probe was going too far. They also questioned whether the removal of the top U.S. law enforcement officer was an attempt to undermine or end the investigation.

 

"Congress must take bipartisan action to protect the integrity of Special Counsel Mueller's investigation," said Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 Democrat in the House of Representatives, hours after Democrats won a House majority in Tuesday's elections.

 

If Sessions' departure was an "opening move" by Trump to meddle in Mueller’s investigation, Hoyer said in a statement, "the president must be held accountable."

 

Asked if Whitaker would now oversee Mueller, a Justice Department spokeswoman said: "The acting attorney general is in charge of all matters under the purview of the Department of Justice."

 

A spokesman for Mueller's office declined to comment on Sessions' departure. Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani told Reuters on Tuesday that he assumed it was "not going to affect" the Mueller investigation.

 

Justice Department rules on special counsels set boundaries on how Mueller could be removed. Under those rules, he could only be discharged for good cause, such as misconduct or dereliction of duty, such as violating department policy.

 

Mueller is investigating if Trump's campaign colluded with Russia, and whether Trump unlawfully tried to obstruct the probe, along with possible financial misconduct by Trump's family and associates.

 

The special counsel has brought charges against Trump's former campaign chairman and other campaign figures, along with 25 Russians and three firms accused of meddling in the campaign to help Trump win.

 

Trump has denied his campaign colluded with Russia.

 

RECUSAL DEMAND

In a Twitter message, the medium he often uses for dismissing subordinates, Trump said he had replaced Sessions with Whitaker, who will be acting attorney general. Whitaker was previously Sessions' chief of staff.

 

Sessions said in a letter to Trump that he had resigned at the president's request.

 

Some Democrats quickly demanded that Whitaker should recuse himself from supervising Mueller, as Sessions did because Whitaker wrote an opinion piece for CNN in August 2017 that argued Mueller had too much latitude in his investigation.

 

The Mueller probe should not extend to the finances of Trump, his family or their business, the Trump Organization, he argued.

 

"Given his previous comments advocating defunding and imposing limitations on the Mueller investigation, Mr. Whitaker should recuse himself from its oversight for the duration of his time as acting attorney general,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.

 

Democratic Representative Jerrold Nadler, expected to chair the House Judiciary Committee starting in January, said removing Sessions fit Trump's pattern of interfering in the work of the Justice Department and Mueller.

 

"Donald Trump may think he has the power to hire and fire whomever he pleases, but he cannot take such action if it is determined that it is for the purposes of subverting the rule of law and obstructing justice," Nadler said in a statement.

 

Republican Mitt Romney, the party's 2012 presidential nominee who was elected on Tuesday to the U.S. Senate from Utah, also said Mueller's probe should not be affected by Sessions' departure.

 

"Under Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, it is imperative that the important work of the Justice Department continues, and that the Mueller investigation proceeds to its conclusion unimpeded," he said on Twitter.

 

HARSH ATTACKS

Never in modern history has a president attacked a Cabinet member as frequently and harshly in public as Trump did Sessions, 71, who had been one of the first members of Congress to back his presidential campaign in 2015.

 

Trump was only a few weeks into his presidency in March 2017 when Sessions upset him by stepping aside from overseeing an FBI probe of potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow, citing news reports of previously undisclosed meetings he had with Russia's ambassador to Washington for his recusal.

 

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein took over supervision of the Russia investigation. He appointed Mueller in May 2017 as the Justice Department's special counsel to take control of the FBI's Russia probe after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey.

 

Despite Trump's criticism, Sessions aggressively carried out the administration's conservative policies. He sought to strip federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities and states, typically governed by Democrats, that he accused of sheltering illegal immigrants from deportation.

 

He also announced Trump's decision to rescind protections for young adults brought into the country illegally as children, and backed Trump's ban on people from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

 

A permanent replacement for Sessions must be confirmed by the Senate, which Trump's Republicans will continue to control as a result of Tuesday's midterm elections.

 

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Writing by Kevin Drawbaugh and John Whitesides; Editing by Will Dunham and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-11-08

[darksidedog]

Another YES man coming in it seems to do what Donald has tried to do since day one. Stop any investigation into him. For Gods sake, doing this just screams out guilt. I am stunned that Trump supporters cant see through him.

[Lacessit]

8 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Another YES man coming in it seems to do what Donald has tried to do since day one. Stop any investigation into him. For Gods sake, doing this just screams out guilt. I am stunned that Trump supporters cant see through him.

If you read James Lee Burke, there's a passage in one of his books, written in 1990, which describes the relationship between a Southern redneck politician, Bobby Earl,  and his supporters - how he can lie to them and still have them believe in him. It's eerily prescient and predictive of Trump.

[lannarebirth]

9 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

If you read James Lee Burke, there's a passage in one of his books, written in 1990, which describes the relationship between a Southern redneck politician, Bobby Earl,  and his supporters - how he can lie to them and still have them believe in him. It's eerily prescient and predictive of Trump.

I do read JLB and know the book you're referring to. Another example would be Dylan's " Only A Pawn In Their Game".

[Becker]

10 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Another YES man coming in it seems to do what Donald has tried to do since day one. Stop any investigation into him. For Gods sake, doing this just screams out guilt. I am stunned that Trump supporters cant see through him.

The man-child supporters lost their ability to stun me more than a year ago - I am now numb. Before the abomination in the WH was elected I was never ashamed of being a white man but now feel shame on an almost daily basis.

Let's hope the checks and balances are sufficient to weather the continuous assault on democracy. If it's not it's time to take to the streets.

[Berkshire]

19 minutes ago, Becker said:

The man-child supporters lost their ability to stun me more than a year ago - I am now numb. Before the abomination in the WH was elected I was never ashamed of being a white man but now feel shame on an almost daily basis.

Let's hope the checks and balances are sufficient to weather the continuous assault on democracy. If it's not it's time to take to the streets.

I know what you mean about these rabid Trump supporters.  They manage to explain everything away, even though their explanations never make any sense.  With Mueller, it should be painfully obvious to even the most brainwashed that Trump's desperation to shut down this investigation MUST demonstrate that he has something to hide. 

 

Regardless, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.  Even if Trump/Whitaker decides to shut down the investigation, the House Intel or Oversight committees can just resurrect it in short order.  The Dems winning back the House really does change things.  I don't think Trump has grasp yet what it all means. 

[Emster23]

Whitaker runs the risk of being charged with obstruction of justice and subject to jail time and disbarring. Look back to Nixon era if you don't believe that can happen. However, as we have lawless Trump and his penchant for pardoning those who defy courts, he may get a pardon....

[Burma Bill]

7 hours ago, keith101 said:

The idiots just don't care .

Yes indeed but he represents many of those gun totting, bible bashing, racist white supremacists.

[Songlaw]

I have said this since the beginning, but it bears repeating. They will never, ever get the stench of this 'presidency' out of the carpets and drapes. I am tired of this emotionally incontinent and intellectually stunted pissant masquerading as a leader. I am not a fan of the liberal approach to politics, but I am very much looking forward to the slanderer-in-chief facing some, albeit half-baked, opposition, for a change. Enough is enough.

[RyanWalker]

7 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Another YES man coming in it seems to do what Donald has tried to do since day one. Stop any investigation into him. For Gods sake, doing this just screams out guilt. I am stunned that Trump supporters cant see through him.

Sit down and relax and let us make the world great again.

[Redline]

They will go after him and his family, as they should.  Shame them worldwide exposing the fakes and crooks they are.  You can blame the immigrant parents 

[stud858]

I don't think there are any ideal options. There's David Suzuki. I like his attitude to governance , but he's Canadian and let's face it, which sane person would like to take on such a job. Trump is one of the more "grab em by the balls attitude" money/power hungry people and I prefer him to the other sneaks.

[mikebike]

27 minutes ago, RyanWalker said:

Sit down and relax and let us make the world great again.

World?

 

We have had 70 years of the USA making the world better... not offering y’all thanks.

[Thingamabob]

This is working out very well for Trump if you think about it. I suspect a big win for him in 2020 unless the Dems wake up and give us something to vote for.

[Srinivas]

Relax , Mueller wont be fired. Besides President Trump had full authority to do that from the beginning.  

 

Mueller is trapped, he cant resign, quit, and cant move forward. He has nothing of substance but has much to answer for. stuck.

 

Whitaker is for fisa  and other document declas for President Trump

by authority of executive order if necessary.

 

Or maybe he will pursue election fraud as many non citizens have been encouraged to vote.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 8, 2018 by Srinivas
extra

[bristolboy]

43 minutes ago, Srinivas said:

Relax , Mueller wont be fired. Besides President Trump had full authority to do that from the beginning.  

 

Mueller is trapped, he cant resign, quit, and cant move forward. He has nothing of substance but has much to answer for. stuck.

 

Whitaker is for fisa  and other document declas for President Trump

by authority of executive order if necessary.

 

Or maybe he will pursue election fraud as many non citizens have been encouraged to vote.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It had to happen. The election fraud lie has reappeared.

Along with the nonsense of the implicit claim that you are privy to what evidence Mueller has or hasn't accumulated.

 

 

[JAG]

56 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

This is working out very well for Trump if you think about it. I suspect a big win for him in 2020 unless the Dems wake up and give us something to vote for.

How do you square that with the rejection of him (his party) by the electorate nationwide in the House of Representatives election?

[Srinivas]

6 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

It had to happen. The election fraud lie has reappeared.

Along with the nonsense of the implicit claim that you are privy to what evidence Mueller has or hasn't accumulated.

 

 

not privy, and neither is msm but trying to connect the dots as everyone else

but hey look Australia is bracing for declas.

https://www.news.com.au/world/breaking-news/docs-declassification-will-expose-downer/news-story/baaaf5ab8c93a099e38228246bdeaaef

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, Thingamabob said:

This is working out very well for Trump if you think about it. I suspect a big win for him in 2020 unless the Dems wake up and give us something to vote for.

Not "trump" is something pretty darned great!

[Jingthing]

9 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Another YES man coming in it seems to do what Donald has tried to do since day one. Stop any investigation into him. For Gods sake, doing this just screams out guilt. I am stunned that Trump supporters cant see through him.

They can. They do not care. In fact, they LIKE it. Their pleasure in life is watching decent Americans anguish over this national disaster. The troll president joins his troll fans. We're watching how democracies fall apart before our very eyes.

Edited November 8, 2018 by Jingthing

[metisdead]

A post in violation of fair use policy has been removed as well as a reply. 

[bristolboy]

7 minutes ago, Srinivas said:

not privy, and neither is msm but trying to connect the dots as everyone else

but hey look Australia is bracing for declas.

https://www.news.com.au/world/breaking-news/docs-declassification-will-expose-downer/news-story/baaaf5ab8c93a099e38228246bdeaaef

A very tiny dot and not sure what you think it could prove.

[Srinivas]

13 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

A very tiny dot and not sure what you think it could prove.

just a theory now so 

IF  Australia(five eyes) is invloved  in russia collusion theory  as a frame up. Then we have a case for foreign interference in elections,collusion in attempt to unseat a duly elected president. treason,sedition for usa players, not sure for Aussie side, probably just embarrassment.

 

Theory is US intel agencies went around US laws by using Uk,Aus to do their dirty work. Like with the Iraq dossier from uk.

all dots are tiny. till you connect them. 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/05/new-zealand-spying-on-pacific-allies-for-five-eyes-and-nsa-snowden-files-show

Edited November 8, 2018 by Srinivas
ad link

[hugocnx]

9 hours ago, Berkshire said:

I know what you mean about these rabid Trump supporters.  They manage to explain everything away, even though their explanations never make any sense.  With Mueller, it should be painfully obvious to even the most brainwashed that Trump's desperation to shut down this investigation MUST demonstrate that he has something to hide. 

 

Regardless, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.  Even if Trump/Whitaker decides to shut down the investigation, the House Intel or Oversight committees can just resurrect it in short order.  The Dems winning back the House really does change things.  I don't think Trump has grasp yet what it all means. 

I think Mueller should be fired asap for incompetence. Almost 2 years later and still cannot close his case.

[Srinivas]

1 minute ago, hugocnx said:

I think Mueller should be fired asap for incompetence. Almost 2 years later and still cannot close his case.

nah dont need to fire him, let him sit where he cant go on msnpc and distort.

 

firing him just gets everyone excited, protesting and worse rioting ,

moveon.org already has protests kits for after his firing , check out their slogan page lol

https://act.moveon.org/survey/mueller-firing-rapid-response-materials

[farcanell]

1 hour ago, Srinivas said:

not privy, and neither is msm but trying to connect the dots as everyone else

but hey look Australia is bracing for declas.

https://www.news.com.au/world/breaking-news/docs-declassification-will-expose-downer/news-story/baaaf5ab8c93a099e38228246bdeaaef

Lol... bracing? I think not.

 

Downer advised Canberra of the details, as would be appropriate... but if he did do something “wrong”... then I (as an Australian) welcome any impact that declassification of documents might bring, as that is what a fully democratic country expects, seemingly unlike the flawed democracy existing in the USA.

[Srinivas]

1 minute ago, farcanell said:

Lol... bracing? I think not.

 

Downer advised Canberra of the details, as would be appropriate... but if he did do something “wrong”... then I (as an Australian) welcome any impact that declassification of documents might bring, as that is what a fully democratic country expects, seemingly unlike the flawed democracy existing in the USA.

agree, open em up.

[stevenl]

11 minutes ago, Srinivas said:

 links are just examples as asked., investigations ongoing.

 

calling names is first sign of a losing argument, frustration imo

understandable. 

 

 

 

 

Of course frustration with you coming up with nonsense claims, when asked to back up the claims almost complete silence, just a few snippets at best, and that time and time again.

Or even worse, you admitting you just don't care.

[bristolboy]

35 minutes ago, Srinivas said:

virtue signaling is just not my thing.  if you want non citizens, un documented immigrants voting in your elections and diluting tax paying citizens votes

then you should understand atleast why someone might disagree with you.

 

https://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/article220834725.html

San Francisco spends $310,000 to register 49 non-citizens to vote in school election

This is about San Francisco making a very expensive effort to reach out to undocumented aliens and allow them to legitimately vote in local school board elections.. It has absolutely nothing to do with voter fraud or the costs thereof. 

As for diluting tax-paying citizens votes, the number is so vanishingly small, that setting up an enforcement mechanism would certainly cost a lot and waste tax paying citizens dollars for virtually nothing.

Edited November 8, 2018 by bristolboy

[Tug]

Our Donald is attempting to starve mr muller of funds to cripple the investigation the house will see if there were any laws broken in firing Mr. Sessions now we will get to see Donald through a clear lense he will be exposed for the con that he is this new guy is a tody not a real att general