Trump Says He Should Not Have Picked Sessions As Attorney General

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would not have appointed Jeff Sessions as attorney general if he had known Sessions would recuse himself from the Russia investigation, according to a New York Times interview. "Sessions should have never recused himself and if he was going to recuse himself he should have told me before he took the job and I would have picked somebody else," the Times quoted Trump as saying. Slideshow (2 Images) Sessions recused himself in March from the probe into allegations of Russia's meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and possible ties between Russians and the Trump campaign. He did so after failing to disclose at his confirmation hearing that he had held meetings last year with Russia's ambassador. A Sessions spokesman declined a Reuters request for comment. There were media reports last month that Sessions, a former U.S. senator who was an early supporter of Trump's campaign, had offered to resign because of tensions with Trump over the recusal. Trump also told the New York Times that a conversation he had with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a dinner at the Group of 20 summit in Germany earlier this month lasted about 15 minutes and was mostly about "pleasantries." That conversation has sparked controversy because it was only disclosed on Tuesday.

Source

I agree and now with Sessions considering bringing back assets forfeiture he really seems out of touch things. Can Trump get another AG to replace him? The recuse situation does seem fishy, as does the whole Russian thang. I say good riddance to Sessions....

a reply to: waftist

Getting rid of Sessions at this point may cause major head aches for the Trump administration down the road. Maybe not? That's just how I feel.

a reply to: waftist

I'm wondering if trump is trying to get fired for obstruction of justice..

Fired comey over an investigation that ATLEAST his son was guilty of...

Then says he is mad that his puppet recused himself so sessions couldn't bury the investigation that TRUMP IS OBVIOUSLY GUILTY OF!!


Any one of us is in jail right now..

a reply to: waftist

Firing Sessions would come with a heft political price, especially after statements like these. I think he'd have to come up with some excuse, or wait for the investigations to finish.

a reply to: waftist

It is possible that this was all planned. Trump had to have known that Sessions would possibly recuse himself thus giving Trump an excuse to replace him if Session's proposed policies ( asset forfeiture, bringing back the "War on Drugs" full swing, etc.) did not go over well with the public. That's called "hedging your bets".

a reply to: waftist

Finally, Trump & I agree on something.

While I do believe that Jeff Sessions did the right thing by recusing himself from the Russian investigation, I can't think of a worse choice for U.S. Attorney General.

I was hoping Sessions would resign after Trump made it abundantly clear that he had lost all confidence in him and would prefer someone else be in that office.

Turns out, self respect isn't one of his strong suits either.

my opinion is something big is coming down the pipe that is about to work in trumps favor once again. The clinton shoots someone in the back comment is telling. my guess is sessions is trying to cover for some of his friends and trump wants to napalm the swamp. Interesting few weeks coming up to be sure. Ive heard the date July 27 from other boards. White House anon has usually been right on. well see though.

Yep, the blamer in chief isn't pleased w/his evil little Keebler elf. Too bad Sessions conveniently forgot about those innocent meetings with the same Russians that other Trump folks met with--and also forgot about. (Strange, selective patterns of forgetfulness w/this admin.) But alas, Sessions actually did the right thing and recused himself, & Comrade Cheeto thinks that's why Mueller's sniffing around his door. Right. It had nothing to do with firing Comey?

a reply to: waftist

If Sessions is fired or is forced to resign, who will be so crazy as to fill the vacancy at this point in time?

originally posted by: theworldisnotenough
a reply to: waftist

If Sessions is fired or is forced to resign, who will be so crazy as to fill the vacancy at this point in time?

I nominate Vinny Gambini, (Joe Pesci) from the movie, "My Cousin Vinny." He seems like a perfect match for Trump.

originally posted by: theworldisnotenough
a reply to: waftist

If Sessions is fired or is forced to resign, who will be so crazy as to fill the vacancy at this point in time?

I'll do it! Legalize everything!

a reply to: JoshuaCox
You know, that is still a possibility. Many of us thought that his initial motive in this whole charade was just to increase his brand. And it may still be. I mean I'm scratching my head over the flip flops and turn arounds this guy is pulling. This way, that way, this way, that way.

Listening to our friends here on this site I am still trying to find that substance about him that they love. I'm trying to see him in any, I mean any favorable light. Or at least a light that demonstrates any consistency. But the only consistency I have been able to determine is to appeal to his supporters, and by the polls even that is fluctuating.

So yeah, he and his coterie may be looking for a back door to slip out of, one that will allow his brand to continue to function and make money without loosing to much face. I dunno, it's all pretty goofy.

You ALL loved Sessions when he was nominated, confirmed...

But NOW that Trump doesn't like him...

The irony: it's REAL.

a reply to: waftist

Trump is sly like a fox...and that is fine by me. If he keeps his promise to "drain the swamp" and gets rid of all the elites on both sides, the Potus will continue to have my support.

Trump should get rid of Sessions. Sessions has antiquated ideas towards many things (including but not limited to the plant that shall go nameless) but IMHO Trump does nothing without a reason.

The Potus follows the old adage of law and business - don't ask the question unless you know the answer.

a reply to: slapjacks

Oh yea.. sessions would turn on him instantly because his career was ruined.

a reply to: GeauxHomeYoureDrunk
I hope so..

originally posted by: GeauxHomeYoureDrunk
a reply to: waftist

It is possible that this was all planned. Trump had to have known that Sessions would possibly recuse himself thus giving Trump an excuse to replace him if Session's proposed policies ( asset forfeiture, bringing back the "War on Drugs" full swing, etc.) did not go over well with the public. That's called "hedging your bets".

I cannot give Trump that much credit. One cannot go into a ballet contest if all one knows how to do is the fox trot. I think Mr. Trump is not capable of the depth of mental awareness it would take to foresee the kinds of things that could happen once he stepped out of his tightly consripted world of salesmanship.

To my mind his successes in the past were do to all the people around him who wanted to get rich by associating with his brand. They would bend over backwards to kiss his whatever just to lap of some of the wild monies that were flowing around him. And while that same principle can hold true in his present situation he does not have the power to control everyone around him any more.

a reply to: slapjacks

Yes or it may serve the administration better and win Trump some support. My question is can he replace him and if so who would that be?

a reply to: JoshuaCox
I had not considered that and I don't know the answer. I do wonder if his son will receive any flack for the meeting and I still do not believe that Trump was unaware of their meeting.

a reply to: Cutepants
Yes I think the investigation will have to pan out before any action is taken too, and firing him would add fuel to fire as far as suspicion goes. As far as excuses, Trump could use several imo, as in the antiquated effort for drug reform and cannabis re-prohibition movements.

a reply to: GeauxHomeYoureDrunk
I see your point and "planning" this would serve to rid that variable from further disclosure potential. Who knows with all this stuff. I am just glad to see Sessions scrutinized.

a reply to: Flatfish
Agreed and maybe Sessions will resign now. That seems in everyone's best interest.

a reply to: theworldisnotenough
Well there couldn't be much worse of a choice, but it will be interesting to see who could replace him.

a reply to: Missmissie173
Me too and I personally admire Trumps stance on this and feel that as far as cannabis issues, he thinks the states should be the ones to determine things ultimately, but I sure would like him to come out and reiterate that point.

I wonder if Rod J. Rosenstein will be moved into the AG position?

Apologies for the short replies, but I do not know what else to say really...

Sessions has no plans to resign despite Trump rebuke

“We love this job, we love this department and I plan to continue to do so as long as that is appropriate,” he said Thursday.

“Jeff Sessions takes the job, gets into the job, recuses himself, which frankly I think is very unfair to the president,” Trump told the newspaper. “How do you take a job and then recuse yourself? If he would have recused himself before the job, I would have said, ‘Thanks, Jeff, but I’m not going to take you.’ It’s extremely unfair — and that’s a mild word — to the president.”

Few developments in the snowballing controversy have irked Trump more than Sessions’ decision to recuse himself from the investigations. The advisers said the president viewed the move as an act of disloyalty — arguably the most grievous offense in the president’s mind — and was angry that Sessions did not consult with him ahead of time. At one point, Sessions privately told Trump he was willing to resign his post, but the president did not accept the offer. One adviser said the president’s comments to the Times did not reflect any new desire by Trump to fire Sessions, though they acknowledged that the attorney general’s response to the public denigration was less certain.

“There were many other conflicts that I haven’t said, but I will at some point,” Trump said.

Linky

Hmm, well this should get interesting

originally posted by: theworldisnotenough
a reply to: waftist

If Sessions is fired or is forced to resign, who will be so crazy as to fill the vacancy at this point in time?

My guess would be someone who's smart enough not to recuse himself purely because Democrats whined and cried at them to do so in total absence of any logical reason to actually recuse. Seriously, Sessions took the easy road when he had no legal or defensible reason to do so in recusing himself. Now look at the mess this has become, with the inmates (Mueller, Schiff, etc) running the asylum.