WASHINGTON — President Trump, who levied extraordinary public attacks on Attorney General Jeff Sessions in recent weeks, has privately revived the idea of firing him in conversations with his aides and personal lawyers this month, according to three people familiar with the discussions.
His attorneys concluded that they have persuaded him – for now – not to make such a move while the special-counsel investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign is ongoing, the people said.
But there is growing evidence that Senate Republicans, who have long cautioned Trump against firing Sessions, are now resigned to the prospect that he may do so after the November midterm elections – a sign that one of the last remaining walls of opposition to such a move is crumbling.
“We wish the best for him, but as any administration would show, Cabinet members seldom last the entire administration, and this is clearly not an exception,” Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said in an interview Tuesday.
“Nothing lasts forever,” Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., told The Washington Post, describing the Trump-Sessions dynamic as “a toxic relationship.”
Added Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., a longtime defender of the attorney general: “My sense is the fix is in.”
Trump’s latest threats illustrate the depths of his hostility toward one of his earliest political supporters, who as attorney general has carried out parts of the president’s agenda most popular with his base.
But Trump has said he views Sessions as disloyal and has repeatedly blasted him for recusing himself from the Russia inquiry – a move that led to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein’s decision to appoint special counsel Robert Mueller III last year.
If Sessions leaves the Justice Department and the Senate confirms a new attorney general, that person probably would assume oversight of the investigation – as well as the ability to determine what material from the inquiry is shared with Congress and the public.
At least twice this month, Trump vented to White House advisers and his lawyers about the “endless investigation” of his campaign and said he needs to fire Sessions for saddling his presidency with the controversy, according to two of the people.
One such discussion occurred in early August, during the trial of Paul Manafort, his former campaign chairman. On Aug. 1, the second day of the trial, Trump tweeted that Sessions should end the special counsel investigation.
“This is a terrible situation and Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to stain our country any further,” Trump wrote. “Bob Mueller is totally conflicted, and his 17 Angry Democrats that are doing his dirty work are a disgrace to USA!”
In subsequent talks with his lawyers and advisers, Trump said what he really wanted to do was fire Sessions, the people said.
Trump’s attorneys, Rudy Giuliani and Jay Sekulow, advised him that Mueller could interpret such an action as an effort to obstruct justice, the people said.
Giuliani confirmed that he and Trump have discussed Sessions’ possible removal, but declined to offer details of their talks.
“If there is any action taken, the president agrees with us that it shouldn’t be taken until after the investigation is concluded,” Giuliani said.
White House aides have tried to convince Trump that firing Sessions could trigger more problems than it would solve.
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