Attorney General Jeff Sessions has reportedly given President Trump his resignation, according to the Associated Press. Sessions, a former senator from Alabama, has served President Trump as his top law enforcer for nearly two years. Trump reportedly asked for his resignation.
Jeff Sessions fired – Trump asks for his resignation
The resignation comes just one day after the midterm elections where Democrats took control of the House of Representatives. Trump asked for Sessions’s resignation, which is an effective firing.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigns: “At your request, I am submitting my resignation.” pic.twitter.com/s9gYL5GCx2
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) November 7, 2018
BREAKING: Attorney General Jeff Sessions submits resignation in letter to President Donald Trump.
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 7, 2018
This is far from unexpected. As we’ve covered here for months, Trump has been mulling over the idea of firing Jeff Sessions for a long time. It was widely expected that Trump would move to fire Sessions after the midterm elections. (RELATED: Report: Jeff Sessions Could Suffer ‘Humiliating’ Firing After Midterms.)
Trump wanted Sessions out
Ever since Sessions recused himself from the ongoing Russia collusion probe headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, Trump has been itching to fire Sessions for what he views as disloyal behavior. Trump went as far as to state almost two months ago that he had no attorney general.
#BREAKING: Trump eviscerates Sessions: “I have no attorney general” https://t.co/PyVAj0gUOe pic.twitter.com/a3uR7oxAoq
— The Hill (@thehill) September 19, 2018
Matthew Whitaker is Jeff Sessions’s replacement
[totalpoll id=”151644″]
In the wake of Sessions resigning, Trump has announced an acting attorney general. The newly empowered AG is none other than Matthew Whitaker, former chief of staff to Sessions at the DOJ.
We are pleased to announce that Matthew G. Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become our new Acting Attorney General of the United States. He will serve our Country well….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2018
….We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2018
Let’s hope this proves a smooth transition for the President. Now the question becomes: when will Trump appoint a new AG and who will it be?
Thankfully for Trump, Republicans held the Senate in the midterm elections. In fact, they expanded their majority. This gives Trump ample time to nominate a successor, rather than force one through a lame-duck session of Congress.