The DOJ is the political brain and nerve center of Fed.gov. And as the power of Fed.gov grows, the DOJ’s power grows even greater.
The KGB served the same function in the Soviet Union.
Thus it is important to have an absolute loyalist as Attorney General, who can also handle the DOJ apparatus. Look at who Presidents have appointed as their AGs over the years. Kennedy appointed his brother. Reagan his old friend Ed Meese. Obama appointed fellow-traveller Holder and then Lynch - and even made sure both were black.
Trump had Sessions foisted upon him by McConnnell. And Sessions betrayed him. After enough damage was done by Russiagate and Mueller, he was given a compromise candidate in Barr.
“Trump had Sessions foisted upon him by McConnnell. And Sessions betrayed him. After enough damage was done by Russiagate and Mueller, he was given a compromise candidate in Barr.”
You are of course correct, but to be completely fair, Trump had to get an Attorney General candidate through a 51-48 Senate (I can’t remember if Sessions could vote for himself, if so 52-48).
And this Senate at the time included John McCain, Jeff Flake, Lisa Murkowski, Lamar Alexander, Susan Collins, etc.
Then it was 52-48 also when Barr was nominated and the Senate was hardly more conservative after the 2018 elections.
That’s why these current Senate races are so important, so that a REAL attorney general nominee can be confirmed.