Trump is reportedly telling 'any senator who will listen' how mad he is at Jeff Sessions

For those wondering why several Republican senators were suddenly willing to turn their backs on Attorney General Jeff Sessions, it's because they've been having venting sessions with President Trump about their former colleague, Politico reports.

Trump has mulled firing Sessions for more than a year, openly mad at him because his recusal from the Russia investigation paved the way for the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Trump has been in an especially foul mood since his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was convicted last week of bank and tax fraud and former personal lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to financial crimes, a person close to Trump told Politico. He's spent the last week chatting with "any senator who will listen" about how angry he is at Sessions, one Republican Senate aide said — including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

Last summer, Graham said there would be "holy hell to pay" if Sessions was fired, but this week, he said the relationship between Trump and Sessions "is not working. It's not good for the Department of Justice." Two Capitol Hill aides said Trump called Graham last week, and when he broached the topic of firing Sessions, Graham told Trump to wait until after the November elections. Several aides said Graham is annoyed with Sessions because he opposes a criminal justice reform bill he supports.

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Trump's not just talking about firing Sessions, Politico reports — he's also complaining about the Alabama native's Southern accent, the fact that he's not an Ivy League graduate, and that he "talks like he has marbles in his mouth." Sessions does have one person still in his corner: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who told reporters Tuesday he has "total confidence in the attorney general. I think he ought to stay exactly where he is."