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Trump fires Jeff Sessions as US attorney general – live updates Donald Trump fires Jeff Sessions, US attorney general – live updates
(35 minutes later)
A lot can happen in a year …
Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, told reporters last year there would be “holy hell to pay” if Sessions is fired.
Lindsey Graham in July 2017: "If Sessions is fired, there will be holy hell to pay." (via CNN) pic.twitter.com/VmqsAjXNlJ
Now that the moment has arrived (though instead of being fired, Sessions resigned at the president’s request), Graham has said in a statement: “I look forward to working with President Trump to find a confirmable, worthy successor so that we can start a new chapter at the Department of Justice and deal with both the opportunities and challenges our nation faces.”
Graham’s office is also telling reporters he won’t take the newly vacated job.
MORE: I just asked a spokesman if @LindseyGrahamSC would be interested in the AG post. Quoting him, he told me: "No, no, no."
Leading constitutional lawyer, Laurence Tribe, warns the “rule of law crisis has been a slow-motion train-wreck for a long time,” in an email to the Guardian.
Matt Whittaker is on record about the ways to clip Mueller’s wings and the alleged need to do so. And I suspect that very few ordinary people will care that this Wednesday afternoon massacre has quietly taken place. Even though Whittaker is only ‘acting’ AG now that Sessions is out, it looks like Whittaker will become Mueller’s minder effective immediately. That could mean the effective termination by an abusive president of the principal investigation into his abuses of power. Arguably an impeachable offense, but in circumstances where impeachment wouldn’t lead to removal.
Former attorney general Eric Holder, who held the post for six years under Barack Obama, weighs in on Sessions’ resignation.
Anyone who attempts to interfere with or obstruct the Mueller inquiry must be held accountable. This is a red line. We are a nation of laws and norms not subject to the self interested actions of one man.
The incoming chair of the House judiciary committee, Democrat Jerry Nadler, asks the top question of the moment: “Why is the President making this change and who has authority over Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation?”
Americans must have answers immediately as to the reasoning behind @realDonaldTrump removing Jeff Sessions from @TheJusticeDept. Why is the President making this change and who has authority over Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation? We will be holding people accountable. https://t.co/weykMuiCxm
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been in combat with Sessions since he took up the attorney general post.
ACLU executive director, Anthony Romero, was blunt in his assessment of Sessions’ tenure. “Jeff Sessions was the worst attorney general in modern American history,” Romero said in a statement.
Romero continued:
He was an egregious violator of civil rights and civil liberties. From his plot to deport Dreamers, remove police and law enforcement accountability, discriminate against trans people, perpetuate and expand senseless enforcement of racist drug laws, use of religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people and undermine reproductive rights, abandon protections for women against violence, and even lie to the Senate to cover up Trump campaign contact with Russian officials, his tenure as the highest chief law enforcement officer was a complete disgrace to our nation’s constitutional protections. Sessions allowed the Department of Justice to function as the political arm of the Trump administration to undo fundamental rights that protect each of us, disregarding years of legal precedent and settled law.
The dismissal of the nation’s top law enforcement official is a huge step, one that should not be based on political motives – and certainly should not be done to protect the president or his cronies from the law. While the constitution grants the president the authority to dismiss his cabinet members, we will be keeping a close watch on the future of the special counsel’s investigation and the impact of the appointment of a new Attorney General. The Senate must demand that any nominee for attorney general must commit to not interfere in the special counsel investigation, and continue to have Robert Mueller operate under the special counsel regulation.”
Last year, the new acting attorney general, Matthew Whitaker, wrote a CNN opinion piece arguing special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Trump “is going too far.”
“Mueller has come up to a red line in the Russia 2016 election-meddling investigation that he is dangerously close to crossing,” Whitaker wrote in the August 2017 piece.
He continued:
This information is deeply concerning to me. It does not take a lawyer or even a former federal prosecutor like myself to conclude that investigating Donald Trump’s finances or his family’s finances falls completely outside of the realm of his 2016 campaign and allegations that the campaign coordinated with the Russian government or anyone else. That goes beyond the scope of the appointment of the special counsel.
In fact, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein’s letter appointing special counsel Robert Mueller does not give Mueller broad, far-reaching powers in this investigation. He is only authorized to investigate matters that involved any potential links to and coordination between two entities -- the Trump campaign and the Russian government. People are wrongly pointing to, and taking out of context, the phrase “any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation” to characterize special counsel’s authority as broad.
The word “investigation” is clearly defined directly preceding it in the same sentence specifically as coordination between individuals associated with the campaign of Donald Trump and Russia. The Trump Organization’s business dealings are plainly not within the scope of the investigation, nor should they be.
“At your request, I am submitting my resignation,” begins Sessions’ resignation letter.“At your request, I am submitting my resignation,” begins Sessions’ resignation letter.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigns: “At your request, I am submitting my resignation.” pic.twitter.com/s9gYL5GCx2Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigns: “At your request, I am submitting my resignation.” pic.twitter.com/s9gYL5GCx2
In the letter, Sessions touts the Justice department’s work in immigration enforcement, the opioid epidemic and prosecuting gangs.In the letter, Sessions touts the Justice department’s work in immigration enforcement, the opioid epidemic and prosecuting gangs.
“I am particularly grateful to the fabulous men and women in law enforcement all over this country with whom I have served,” Sessions wrote. “I have had no greater honor than to serve alongside them.”“I am particularly grateful to the fabulous men and women in law enforcement all over this country with whom I have served,” Sessions wrote. “I have had no greater honor than to serve alongside them.”
John Cornyn, the second-ranking senate Republican, already has a statement on Sessions’ departure:John Cornyn, the second-ranking senate Republican, already has a statement on Sessions’ departure:
Attorney General Sessions has selflessly dedicated more than 40 years to serving the people of Alabama and the nation. As our country’s top law enforcement official, he has been integral in fighting the opioid epidemic, keeping violent criminals off our streets, and supporting victims. Those who know him understand his commitment to the rule of law, and his deep and abiding concern for our country.Attorney General Sessions has selflessly dedicated more than 40 years to serving the people of Alabama and the nation. As our country’s top law enforcement official, he has been integral in fighting the opioid epidemic, keeping violent criminals off our streets, and supporting victims. Those who know him understand his commitment to the rule of law, and his deep and abiding concern for our country.
I’ve had the honor of working closely with Jeff since I came to the Senate, and I’m proud to call him a friend. I wish Jeff and Mary the best of luck in their next chapter, and I hope everyone will join me in honoring his public service to the country.I’ve had the honor of working closely with Jeff since I came to the Senate, and I’m proud to call him a friend. I wish Jeff and Mary the best of luck in their next chapter, and I hope everyone will join me in honoring his public service to the country.
Jeff Sessions has submitted his resignation at the president’s request, according to the New York Times.Jeff Sessions has submitted his resignation at the president’s request, according to the New York Times.
Sessions has been in Trump’s firing line since the attorney general recused himself from the Russia inquiry in March 2017.Sessions has been in Trump’s firing line since the attorney general recused himself from the Russia inquiry in March 2017.
“He took the job and then he said, ‘I’m going to recuse myself.’ I said, ‘What kind of a man is this?’” Trump told Fox News in August. “I wanted to stay uninvolved. But when everybody sees what’s going on in the Justice Department — I always put ‘justice’ now with quotes.”“He took the job and then he said, ‘I’m going to recuse myself.’ I said, ‘What kind of a man is this?’” Trump told Fox News in August. “I wanted to stay uninvolved. But when everybody sees what’s going on in the Justice Department — I always put ‘justice’ now with quotes.”
Trump just announced on Twitter that Sessions is being replaced by his chief of staff Matthew Whitaker, who will serve as the acting attorney general.Trump just announced on Twitter that Sessions is being replaced by his chief of staff Matthew Whitaker, who will serve as the acting attorney general.
“We thank attorney general Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! “Trump said. “A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date.”“We thank attorney general Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! “Trump said. “A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date.”
We are pleased to announce that Matthew G. Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become our new Acting Attorney General of the United States. He will serve our Country well....We are pleased to announce that Matthew G. Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become our new Acting Attorney General of the United States. He will serve our Country well....
....We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date.....We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date.
What do midterm results mean for the Trump-Russia inquiry, climate change, immigration and other key issues?What do midterm results mean for the Trump-Russia inquiry, climate change, immigration and other key issues?
Guardian reporters have some answers:Guardian reporters have some answers:
US senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican, has attacked the media for their behavior at the press conference this afternoon.
It’s apparent to me the White House press corps lives in a bubble and the way they are conducting themselves today will do NOTHING to improve their standing with the American people.
“Certain members of the press cannot stand the fact that President Donald Trump and Republicans defied expectations in the midterm elections – actually growing our Senate majority,” he continued. “The mainstream press are not – in my opinion – ‘Enemies of the People’ but rather ‘Allies of the Democratic Party’ playing an activist role in support of their agenda.”
Graham did not provide examples of how the media is supporting the Democratic agenda through their questions, which included asking what the president learned from the election result.
Trump himself appeared upset by a question asking whether he characterized migrants in Central America as an “invasion” to score political points.
Here’s a summary of where things stand:
The extent of the Democratic victory Tuesday night came into focus as the party flipped seven governor’s mansions and 333 state legislative seats, and gained full control of government in six states.
That was in addition to advancing successful ballot initiatives on criminal justice reform and voting rights, and to the big prize – winning a robust majority in the House of Representatives.
Donald Trump declared “complete victory” for Republicans and claimed that the loss of uniform Republican control of Congress would ease gridlock and was a success “from the standpoint of dealmaking.”
Trump warned that he would reply to oversight attempts by Democrats with retaliatory investigations that would cause governmental gridlock which he would then blame Democrats for.
In a pugnacious, interminable news conference, Trump nastily attacked an African American reporter for a question about whether his rhetoric emboldens white nationalists, calling it a “racist question.”
Trump also said “I am a great moral leader,” “This is a hot White House” and “I think people like me.”
The extent of Republican gains in the senate were unclear, with Democrat Bill Nelson calling for a recount in Florida, the Arizona race too close to call and Mississippi headed for a runoff.
In a sign of rejection of Trump, significant Democratic gains came in suburban and wealthier non-rural areas including in right-leaning cities and suburbs that had voted heavily for Trump.
Likely incoming majority leader declared that “health care won” in the election. Both Pelosi and Trump said they would try to work together on issues such as drug prices and infrastructure.
NEW: @NancyPelosi: "Health care was on the ballot, and health care won." https://t.co/QKK9VJ0K1i pic.twitter.com/6JubyJniSE
What did you think of that news conference?
The PBS reporter attacked by Trump for her question about white nationalism and the Republican party says “I’m simply asking the questions the public wants to know.”
I asked President Trump what he thinks of people seeing his rhetoric as emboldening white nationalists and whether he was concerned that Republicans would be seen as supporting white nationalists.His response: "That's a racist question."
I'm simply asking the questions the public wants to know. https://t.co/bZ1cZVBKhd
Trump concludes by saying “hopefully the tone can get a lot better but I really believe it begins with the media. We used to call it the press.”
Last question from the media: does it begin with you Mr President?
“I do have the right to fight back... I’m fighting back not for me, I’m fighting back for the people of this country.”
Earned media.
HOW TRUMP SEES PRESS CONFERENCES LIKE THIS ONE: When @HunterW encourages him to hold more press conferences because they lead to accountability, TRUMP corrects him: "It's called earned media. It's worth billions."
On the deployment of the US military to the Mexican border announced by the president on the eve of the election: mission accomplished?
Day after the election, Pentagon announces no longer calling US military mission on southern border ‘Operation Faithful Patriot’. Now calling it ‘border support.” No reason given for the change.
Trump is asked about barriers to voting in Georgia, long lines to vote and other voting access issues in the state.
Trump denies there were access issues.
“I heard it was very efficient in Georgia. I heard it was very efficient. But again you’re going to have to ask the state governments.”
New question for Trump about his former aide Michael Cohen saying Trump repeatedly used racist remarks.
“I don’t use racist remarks, and if I did, you people would know about it... I have never used racist remarks,” Trump says.
The reporter points out that Trump’s claim of great popularity among African Americans is false: it’s 8%.
President Trump has denied @swin24’s story that he repeatedly called rapper and ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ contestant Lil Jon “Uncle Tom.”“I don’t know who that is.” https://t.co/9SF2eXoXlw