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Trump-Russia probe 'under threat' after Sessions fired Trump-Russia probe 'under threat' after Sessions fired
(35 minutes later)
The Russia inquiry could be under threat after Donald Trump fired US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, top Democrats have warned.The Russia inquiry could be under threat after Donald Trump fired US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, top Democrats have warned.
Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi called the decision a "blatant attempt" to end or impede the investigation.Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi called the decision a "blatant attempt" to end or impede the investigation.
The Democrats, who captured the House of Representatives in Tuesday's mid-term polls, have vowed to protect it.The Democrats, who captured the House of Representatives in Tuesday's mid-term polls, have vowed to protect it.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is looking into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election.Special Counsel Robert Mueller is looking into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Matthew Whitaker, who has has been named acting attorney general, has previously criticised the investigation.Matthew Whitaker, who has has been named acting attorney general, has previously criticised the investigation.
Some Republicans appear to have shared the Democrats' concern over the future of the inquiry. Senator Susan Collins and Mitt Romney said it should not be impeded in any way.Some Republicans appear to have shared the Democrats' concern over the future of the inquiry. Senator Susan Collins and Mitt Romney said it should not be impeded in any way.
Mr Mueller is investigating alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, resulting in a series of criminal charges against several Trump associates.Mr Mueller is investigating alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, resulting in a series of criminal charges against several Trump associates.
Mr Trump has vehemently denied any collusion took place, and repeatedly called for the inquiry to be shut down, calling it "the greatest political witch hunt in history".Mr Trump has vehemently denied any collusion took place, and repeatedly called for the inquiry to be shut down, calling it "the greatest political witch hunt in history".
Democrats see this latest move as an attempt to do just that.Democrats see this latest move as an attempt to do just that.
"It is impossible to read Attorney General Sessions' firing as anything other than another blatant attempt by @realDonaldTrump to undermine and end Special Counsel Mueller's investigation," Ms Pelosi - a front runner to become House leader following this week's mid-terms - tweeted."It is impossible to read Attorney General Sessions' firing as anything other than another blatant attempt by @realDonaldTrump to undermine and end Special Counsel Mueller's investigation," Ms Pelosi - a front runner to become House leader following this week's mid-terms - tweeted.
She went on to argue that, "given his record of threats to undermine and weaken the Russia investigation", Mr Whitaker should follow in Mr Sessions' footsteps and recuse himself.She went on to argue that, "given his record of threats to undermine and weaken the Russia investigation", Mr Whitaker should follow in Mr Sessions' footsteps and recuse himself.
Her words were echoed by Democratic party Senate leader Chuck Schumer, who added: "Clearly, the president has something to hide."Her words were echoed by Democratic party Senate leader Chuck Schumer, who added: "Clearly, the president has something to hide."
Why was Sessions fired?Why was Sessions fired?
The sacking followed months of Mr Trump criticising Mr Sessions, mainly for his decision to step aside from the Russia inquiry in March 2017.The sacking followed months of Mr Trump criticising Mr Sessions, mainly for his decision to step aside from the Russia inquiry in March 2017.
Mr Sessions removed himself from the probe after Democrats accused him of failing to disclose contacts he had had with the Russian ambassador as a senior adviser to Mr Trump's campaign.Mr Sessions removed himself from the probe after Democrats accused him of failing to disclose contacts he had had with the Russian ambassador as a senior adviser to Mr Trump's campaign.
In July 2017 Mr Trump told the New York Times: "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."In July 2017 Mr Trump told the New York Times: "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."
In a resignation letter, Mr Sessions - a former Alabama senator who was an early supporter of Mr Trump - made clear the decision to go was not his own.In a resignation letter, Mr Sessions - a former Alabama senator who was an early supporter of Mr Trump - made clear the decision to go was not his own.
"Dear Mr President, at your request I am submitting my resignation," he wrote in an undated letter."Dear Mr President, at your request I am submitting my resignation," he wrote in an undated letter.
What happens now?What happens now?
Mr Whitaker can now assume control of the Mueller inquiry, which has been under the control of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein until now. Mr Whitaker can now assume control of the Mueller inquiry, which has been overseen by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein until now.
The president cannot directly fire the special counsel. But Mr Sessions's replacement will have the power to do so, or end the inquiry.The president cannot directly fire the special counsel. But Mr Sessions's replacement will have the power to do so, or end the inquiry.
Mr Whitaker expressed concerns over the investigation. For example, in August 2017, he wrote a piece for CNN in which he stated that looking into Mr Trump's personal finances, or those of his family, "goes beyond the scope of the appointment of the special counsel". Mr Whitaker expressed concerns over the investigation. In August 2017, he wrote a piece for CNN in which he stated that looking into Mr Trump's personal finances, or those of his family, "goes beyond the scope of the appointment of the special counsel".
He went on to call on Mr Rosenstein to "order Mueller to limit the scope of the investigation" or risk the inquiry starting "to look like a political fishing expedition".He went on to call on Mr Rosenstein to "order Mueller to limit the scope of the investigation" or risk the inquiry starting "to look like a political fishing expedition".
It was the deputy attorney general who appointed Mr Mueller to lead the Russia inquiry, after Mr Trump fired FBI director James Comey in May 2017. The deputy attorney general appointed Mr Mueller to lead the inquiry after Mr Trump fired FBI director James Comey in 2017.
The special counsel's probe has also been investigating whether Mr Comey's firing amounted to attempted obstruction of justice. The special counsel has also been investigating whether Mr Comey's firing amounted to obstruction of justice.
There has also been a question mark over Mr Rosenstein's future since it was reported he had discussed invoking a constitutional clause to oust President Trump. There has also been a question mark over Mr Rosenstein's future since it was alleged that he had discussed invoking a constitutional clause to oust President Trump.
Is Trump trying to shut down Russia probe? What does this mean for the Mueller probe?
Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC WashingtonAnalysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC Washington
The presidential axe that had been hovering over Jeff Sessions for what has seemed like an eternity just came swinging down with a thud. Donald Trump had previously said he would wait until after the mid-term elections to decide his attorney general's fate, and he did - but just barely. There had already been hints that Robert Mueller's pre-election "quiet period" was about to come to an end. And, in fact, if the former FBI director is as meticulous as he's reputed to be, he might have already made plans to deal with exactly this contingency.
And like that the duties of overseeing Robert Mueller's Russia investigation shift from the man who appointed the special counsel, Rod Rosenstein, to a man who has been a critic of it, Department of Justice Chief of Staff Matthew Whitaker. That's stepping into the unknown, however.
In an opinion piece for The Hill before he took the Department of Justice job, Mr Whitaker wrote that calls for an as yet-to-be-named independent prosecutor would be "just craven attempts to score cheap political points". In April 2017, he wrote for CNN that any Mueller investigation into the president's finances would be "going too far". What's certain is that if the special counsel tries to issue new indictments or expand his inquiry, Matthew Whitaker is now in a position to rebuff those requests. If Mr Mueller files a report detailing his conclusions, the new acting attorney general could keep the document from ever becoming public.
What happens next is critical. Mr Mueller's inquiry could continue unabated - although the special counsel must surely be considering tightening his timeline. There is also the possibility, however, that this is just the opening move of a White House effort to shut down the probe or keep its findings out of the public eye. Those would be half-measures and insurance policies to limit damage. The president may also decide to instruct Mr Whitaker to fire the entire Mueller team - something Mr Trump says he has the power to do.
There's some doubt about whether the president is right, but with the mid-terms behind him he could be itching to settle this Mueller business once and for all. And he's one step closer to being able to do just that.
That almost certainly wouldn't be the end of this story, but it's the beginning of a new, fraught chapter.