Trump Asked Sessions to Retain Control of Russia Inquiry After His Recusal
Source: NYT
WASHINGTON By the time Attorney General Jeff Sessions arrived at President Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort for dinner one Saturday evening in March 2017, he had been receiving the presidential silent treatment for two days. Mr. Sessions had flown to Florida because Mr. Trump was refusing to take his calls about a pressing decision on his travel ban.
When they met, Mr. Trump was ready to talk but not about the travel ban. His grievance was with Mr. Sessions: The president objected to his decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation. Mr. Trump, who had told aides that he needed a loyalist overseeing the inquiry, berated Mr. Sessions and told him he should reverse his decision, an unusual and potentially inappropriate request.
Mr. Sessions refused.
The confrontation, which has not been previously reported, is being investigated by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, as are the presidents public and private attacks on Mr. Sessions and efforts to get him to resign. Mr. Trump dwelled on the recusal for months, according to confidants and current and former administration officials who described his behavior toward the attorney general.
The special counsels interest demonstrates Mr. Sessionss overlooked role as a key witness in the investigation into whether Mr. Trump tried to obstruct the inquiry itself. It also suggests that the obstruction investigation is broader than it is widely understood to be encompassing not only the presidents interactions with and firing of the former F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, but also his relationship with Mr. Sessions.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/us/politics/trump-sessions-obstruction.html
BigmanPigman
(51,585 posts)T-R-U-M-P!
truthisfreedom
(23,146 posts)ITS JUST A MADE-UP LAW! ITS NOT REAL!
Correct me if Im wrong, but didnt cheetolini claim this.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,310 posts)DeminPennswoods
(15,284 posts)Senate Republicans have privately told Trump that if he fires Sessions, they will not confirm whoever he appoints as Sessions' replacement.
Think about it. Jeff Sessions, xenophobic racist, could turn out to be a "hero" in the whole investigation merely for being one of the few, if the only, Trump cabinet member to follow the law.
riversedge
(70,197 posts)NYT: Mueller probing Trump's request that Sessions rescind his recusal from Russia investigation
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/29/politics/trump-sessions-russia-recusal/index.html
Updated 4:45 AM ET, Wed May 30, 2018
NYT: Trump asked Sessions to rescind recusal 01:45
(CNN)President Trump pressured Attorney General Jeff Sessions to reverse his decision to recuse himself from oversight of the Russia investigation and special counsel Robert Mueller is now probing that exchange, according to a report from the New York Times.
The newspaper reported Tuesday that when Sessions flew down to Florida to have dinner with the President at his Mar-a-Lago resort in March 2017, Trump berated Sessions about his decision and asked him to rescind it, a request Sessions declined.
This exchange, as well as the repeated attacks on Sessions by Trump in the media and on Twitter, are part of Mueller's investigation, the paper reported.
Mueller has been reported to be focused on obstruction of justice in his inquiry. In addition to the conversation with Sessions, he has also looked into the firing of former FBI Director James Comey..............
skip fox
(19,357 posts)Sessions recuses himself March 2, 2017.
When was the trip to Mar-a-Lago? All NYT says is that it was one Saturday in March. (Or did I miss something?)
Was that early March or late March? Does that matter?
Well, it would tell us how long Trump had been fuming about this. If it was early March, many might say he was still smarting from the recusal and was acting on impulse. If it was late March indicates something else.
I'm sure Mueller knows the time frame and has assessed the implications.