Peter Baker & Maggie Haberman report:
“WASHINGTON — Few Republicans were quicker to embrace President Trump’s campaign last year than Jeff Sessions, and his reward was one of the most prestigious jobs in America. But more than four months into his presidency, Mr. Trump has grown sour on Mr. Sessions, now his attorney general, blaming him for various troubles that have plagued the White House.
The discontent was on display on Monday in a series of stark early-morning postings on Twitter in which the president faulted his own Justice Department for its defense of his travel ban on visitors from certain predominantly Muslim countries. Mr. Trump accused Mr. Sessions’s department of devising a “politically correct” version of the ban — as if the president had nothing to do with it.
In private, the president’s exasperation has been even sharper. He has intermittently fumed for months over Mr. Sessions’s decision to recuse himself from the investigation into Russian meddling in last year’s election, according to people close to Mr. Trump who insisted on anonymity to describe internal conversations. In Mr. Trump’s view, they said, it was that recusal that eventually led to the appointment of a special counsel who took over the investigation.
Behind-the-scenes frustration would not be unprecedented in the Oval Office. Other presidents have become estranged from the Justice Department over time, notably President Bill Clinton, who bristled at Attorney General Janet Reno’s decisions to authorize investigations into him and his administration, among other things. But Mr. Trump’s tweets on Monday made his feelings evident for all to see and raised questions about how he is managing his own administration.
“They wholly undercut the idea that there is some rational process behind the president’s decisions,” said Walter E. Dellinger, who served as acting solicitor general under Mr. Clinton. “I believe it is unprecedented for a president to publicly chastise his own Justice Department.”
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Read the complete article at the link.
I certainly never would have accused Trump of rationality.
It seems it doesn’t take much to go from hero to goat with Trump — another sign of an unbalanced mind at the helm of our country. I’ve been a frequent critic of Jeff Sessions for his anti-immigrant views, white nationalist associations, and totally “gonzo” views and actions on civil rights and immigration enforcement. But, it sounds like he has been trying to do the right thing in this situation and offering the President some wise counsel. I guess there is no surer way of getting on Trump’s “hit list” than to act with some rationality and integrity.
It’s still a problem if Sessions isn’t able to control Trump’s public behavior in litigation. The head of a law firm can’t stand by and let a client, even the big one, publicly abuse and undermine his or her partners and associates.
In private practice, you sometimes have to “fire” an unruly client. In Government, you can’t fire the President, but you can “take a walk” and let folks know why you are doing it. Ultimately, Sessions (and Rosenstein, and probably Associate AG Rachel Brand) might have to decide whether to be loyal to the President or to the Department of Justice and the integrity of our justice system.
Shouldn’t really be much of a dilemma. After all, no politico expects to serve indefinitely, and each member of this trio should be readily employable in the private sector.
PWS
06-06-17
(AG) Jefferson Davis Beauregard Sessions like Mike Flynn share their notoriety from jumping early on the Trump Train. AG’s judicial career was derailed by injudicious spontaneous racist comments in support of the KKK, when Bush II had to withdraw his nomination for US District Judge. Always careless but relentless.
AG turned to politics and with 25% of Alabama population now African American he turned anti-Hispanic, leading a now famous tirade against Justice Sotomayor for suggesting a Latina could be wise. Since January AG completely switched priorities at DOJ from protecting citizen’s voting rights to allocating resources that lock up Hispanics.
That those policies also lock up African America AG sees it as gravy. Just what you’d expect from someone named after the Confederate President and the Southern general who started the Civil War bombarding US troops at Ft. Sumter SC. You couldn’t write it better. I’m looking forward to another 1973-74. Paraphrasing Robert Duval: I love the Sound of Watergate in the morning.
G
It won’t be a loss for the DOJ or the US system of justice. But, it might be a loss that Trump regrets. Sessions was perfectly happy carrying out the Bannon/Miller white nationalist, xenophobic, human rights and civil rights free agenda. Who else that could get confirmed will be that committed to turning back the clock to the 1950s? Even Ashcroft probably didn’t want to go back further than the Nixon years.
On the plus side, given the Administration’s regressive program, having a leaderless DOJ without anyone to implement that program or try to defend it with any enthusiasm might be a good break for the DOJ and the country.
Best,
Paul
Fortunately, Sessions is not a very good lawyer. But beware, always careless, but relentless. He seems to be matching Nixon’s John Mitchell for personifying scienter. Another of Himmler’s evil twins.
And like Mitchell, Jefferson Davis Beauregard Sessions is a big enough fish to fire in a “modified limited hangout” for Trump as temperamentally challenged USA CEO until Trump gets us Tax Cuts. Big Ones! Then Long Live President Pence. Springtime for Trump now.
Trump says his tax bill is moving right through Congress, but no one in Congress has seen such a bill. See http://money.cnn.com/2017/06/02/news/economy/donald-trump-tax-bill/index.html
If Trump doesn’t get Congress to pass tax cuts tied to reform Obamacare, soon, he’s toast for disapproval. He tries to be the Don Rickles of politicians, but without a sense of humor. See https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/09/does-trump-know-how-to-laugh/501875/
One thing that has always bothered me about Trump is his lack of a sense of humor. He also lacks the ability and self-confidence to laugh at himself. Bad combination for the nation!
Best,
P