Jeff Sessions hits back at Trump criticism
US attorney general defends his position in the wake of ongoing Trump attacks

US attorney general Jeff Sessions has issued a striking rebuke to Donald Trump, after the US president attacked the justice department during a Fox News interview yesterday.
The Guardian reports that Trump “reprised a litany of complaints about the justice department and the FBI, attacking both without providing evidence they had treated him and his supporters unfairly”, in the wake of Michael Cohen’s guilty plea and Paul Manafort’s conviction earlier this week.
During the interview, Trump accused Sessions of losing control of the justice department, and blamed him for what he called “corruption” within the department over special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“I took control of the department of justice the day I was sworn in,” Sessions said. "While I am attorney general, the actions of the department of justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations.”
The rebuke from Sessions comes amid growing reports that Sessions will be fired by Trump following the mid-term elections in November.
Politico reports that Republicans have warned Trump not to remove Sessions from his role because “they would not confirm a successor”.
However prominent Republican Lindsey Graham appeared to back down from that stance yesterday, “appearing almost to encourage Trump to send Sessions packing”, Politco says.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
US kills 11 on 'drug-carrying boat' off Venezuela
Speed Read Trump claimed those killed in the strike were 'positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists' shipping drugs to the US
-
Trump vows to send federal forces to Chicago, Baltimore
Speed Read The announcement followed a California judge ruling that Trump's LA troop deployment was illegal
-
Epstein files: Maxwell courts a pardon
Feature A new prison transcript shows Ghislaine Maxwell praising Trump as 'a gentleman' while denying his involvement in the Epstein scandal
-
Pentagon readies military deployment in Chicago
Feature The Pentagon is preparing to deploy thousands of Illinois National Guard members to Chicago after Trump threatened to send troops into other major cities
-
Trump reignites Jan. 6 furor by awarding military honors to killed rioter
IN THE SPOTLIGHT With military funeral honors for Ashli Babbitt, the president makes good on campaign promises designed to animate his political base while relitigating history
-
'Is it OK to be happy when the world is falling apart?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump crypto token launch earns family billions
Speed Read The World Liberty Financial token is now the Trump family's 'most valuable asset'
-
Lisa Cook and Trump's battle for control the US Fed
Talking Point The president's attempts to fire one of the Federal Reserve's seven governor is represents 'a stunning escalation' of his attacks on the US central bank