Trump: It's 'very unfair to the president' that Sessions recused himself from Russia probe
In an interview with The New York Times on Wednesday, President Trump didn't hold back while talking about Attorney General Jeff Sessions, saying that if Sessions had told him he would recuse himself from leading the investigation into Russian election meddling, he never would have appointed him to the position.
"Jeff Sessions takes the job, gets into the job, recuses himself, which frankly I think is very unfair to the president," he said. "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." He also accused Sessions of giving "some bad answers" during his Senate confirmation hearings, primarily his denial of ever meeting Russians during the campaign, despite two meetings with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
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.
-
House GOP revolt forces vote on ACA subsidiesSpeed Read The new health care bill would lower some costs but not extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies
-
‘Kast’s victory is a political and ethical earthquake’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Turner Prize 2025: ‘artistic excellence’ or ‘cultural nonsense’?Talking Point Work by the four artists nominated for this year’s award is on display at Bradford’s Cartwright Hall
-
House GOP revolt forces vote on ACA subsidies
Speed Read The new health care bill would lower some costs but not extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies
-
Hegseth rejects release of full boat strike footageSpeed Read There are calls to release video of the military killing two survivors of a Sept. 2 missile strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat
-
Trump vows naval blockade of most Venezuelan oilSpeed Read The announcement further escalates pressure on President Nicolás Maduro
-
Kushner drops Trump hotel project in SerbiaSpeed Read Affinity Partners pulled out of a deal to finance a Trump-branded development in Belgrade
-
Senate votes down ACA subsidies, GOP alternativeSpeed Read The Senate rejected the extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits, guaranteeing a steep rise in health care costs for millions of Americans
-
Abrego García freed from jail on judge’s orderSpeed Read The wrongfully deported man has been released from an ICE detention center
-
Indiana Senate rejects Trump’s gerrymander pushSpeed Read The proposed gerrymander would have likely flipped the state’s two Democratic-held US House seats
-
Democrat files to impeach RFK Jr.Speed Read Rep. Haley Stevens filed articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
