In an interview with Fox News’ Shannon Bream, Attorney General Jeff Sessions opened the door to the possibility of a second special counsel to investigate Justice Department officials in 2016 and 2017.
Sessions finally hinted at the possibility, saying he would “consider seriously” demands made by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Rep. Trey Gowdy.
“I have great respect for Mr. Gowdy and Chairman Goodlatte, and we are going to consider seriously their recommendations,” Sessions said Wednesday night.
He added, “I have appointed a person outside of Washington — many years at the Department of Justice — to look at all of the allegations that the House Judiciary Committee members sent to us and we are conducting that investigation.”
Sessions on calls for second Special Counsel: “I have appointed a person outside of Washington, many years in the Department of Justice, to look at all the allegations that the House Judiciary Committee members sent to us and we’re conducting that investigation.” @ShannonBream pic.twitter.com/qpNO9MTiA2
— Jake Gibson (@JakeBGibson) March 7, 2018
Sessions was responding to a letter penned by Gowdy and Goodlatte that called for an investigation of “conflicts of interest” and decisions “made and not made” by Justice Department officials in the Obama Administration, some of whom carried over into Trump’s Administration.
“Matters have arisen—both recently and otherwise—which necessitate the appointment of a Special Counsel,” the Republican congressmen wrote. “We do not make this observation and attendant request lightly.”
Gowdy added during a Fox News interview that Sessions may be recused from matters regarding the Russia investigation, but “he’s not recused from appointing special counsel.”
.@TGowdySC: “[Attorney General Jeff Sessions] is recused from making decisions about Russia, but he’s not recused from appointing special counsel.” #TheStory pic.twitter.com/YfQfjHHGA5
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 8, 2018
“We must make sure it is done properly, and we are going to do that, and I will consider the request,” Sessions insisted.
“I also am well aware that we have responsibility to ensure the integrity of the FISA process.”
It’s on! Sessions ‘seriously’ considering special counsel for FISA-gate https://t.co/ulxjaaSImb via @washtimes
— Jordan Sekulow (@JordanSekulow) March 8, 2018
Goodlatte and Gowdy, meanwhile, hammered the Justice Department for destroying that integrity.
“There is evidence of bias, trending toward animus, among those charged with investigating serious cases,” they wrote.
They also referred to the entire case built around accessing a FISA warrant as “highly suspect.”
Those two words could be the motto for an out-of-control Justice Department during the previous administration.
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