Jefferson Sessions still hanging around, casting forlorn glances at the window. Checking his messages every five minutes. Rehearsing his next conversation. He has that box of chocolates ready. Meanwhile, his beloved has definitely moved on.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions doesn't plan to take the hint. President Trump continues hitting him in all body parts — apparently hoping he'll resign, which could pave the way for firing special counsel Bob Mueller.
It’s not a coincidence that the thing Trump complains about—Sessions recusing himself from the Russia investigation—is the thing that would make it rather awkward for the attorney general to order Rod Rosenstein to order Robert Mueller to pack his bags. It’s the only thing Trump is looking for in an attorney general.
“I’m disappointed in the attorney general,’’ Trump said. “If he was going to recuse himself, he should have told me prior to taking office, and I would have picked somebody else. It’s a bad thing not just for the president, but also for the presidency. I think it’s unfair to the presidency.”
Trump wants an AG who will fire Mueller. Sessions is in a position where firing Mueller would require really going far out on a limb of “somehow this doesn’t violate my recusal.” Of course, Sessions already went out on that limb once to help Trump fire FBI Director James Comey, and Trump made it clear that firing was also about the Russia investigation. Maybe these two can still be reconciled.
Trump wants just one thing out of the Justice Department, and Jefferson Sessions is not delivering. So as Sessions turns his sad, sad face toward the White House, Trump continues to spurn him.
Trump was asked at a Rose Garden news conference if he would fire the attorney general, who angered the president by recusing himself from the criminal probe into possible connections between the Trump campaign and Russia.
“We’ll see what happens,’’ said Trump — a potentially ominous choice of phrase, considering the president used the same expression when talking to FBI Director James B. Comey before he was fired.
Though Sessions is making a show of hanging in there, many expect that this show of gumption is designed to last just until the Senate goes on its delayed August recess. That will give Trump the opportunity to replace Sessions with someone who will quickly pull the switch on Mueller and have it all done before the senators get back in town to express how disappointed they are.
And do nothing.