It's a qualitatively different situation. Holder and Lynch were involved in actual shadiness.
With Sessions, the whole Russia thing was totally phony, and his recusal made it look 10x more real than it was.
Especially in the environment that was clearly prevailing, Sessions should never have recused himself without consulting the President first.
This is a coup attempt, and against that backdrop, Jeff Sessions had no business making such a decision unilaterally, especially since it was all so phony.
I really have to agree with the President on at least that one point.
I don't know what else is going on between them, but it's painfully obvious that the President—whether he's right or wrong—feels he has been betrayed by his AG on one or more levels.
I'm just gobsmacked at this latest development. I'm going to withhold judgement on the bigger picture—with respect to both men—until I learn more, but this is a major conflagration between two friends. I don't think it could be based on anything trivial.
And, to be clear: if this reporting is true, Jeff Sessions must promptly resign. If he doesn't, then it reveals a major flaw in his own character...
If what reporting is true? I’m not sure what you reporting you’re talking about.
You’re right in that Russia is a nothing burger. But the Senate was going to investigate anyway. Based on the ethics rules of the DOJ, he was advised to recuse himself and he agreed. Now you can argue he should have told the President before he did it, I don’t know if he did or didn’t, I know that’s what’s reported, but he would have recused himself anyway. What I’m asking myself is why is he so mad about it now? This didn’t happen a week ago.
Also, Rosenstein was given the #2 position by Trump, not Sessions. Everyone keeps forgetting that. Sessions asked for his resignation. Trump refused to accept it and then promoted him. He is the one who appointed a special prosecutor, not Sessions. Why isn’t Trump upset with him? Better yet, that’s on Trump, because he made a bad decision by keeping him in the first place. Rosenstein would be gone if he had listened to Sessions.
Now Trump is on Twitter acting like who is this guy Rosenstein. Give me a break? Even you can see that’s a lot of horse crap!
I actually think Sessions should resign too, just not for the same reasons. I’d be damned if I’d be treated like this after all I had done to help him get elected and then have him treat me like this. I’d walk my ass right out of there. And don’t say he didn’t have a lot to do with it, he did. Sessions set up his immigration policy. And recall his immigration stance is what catapulted him to the front of the Republican ticket. Also recall his first big rally was in Mobile, where Sessions is from. I happen to be from there as well. I cannot overstate how well thought of Sessions is in South Alabama,I mean his last run for Senate was unopposed, and that had a lot to do with why that rally was so huge, and that was the first rally Sessions was at. If I remember correctly it was the first rally any sitting Republican was at.
But after what Trump has done on Twitter, yeah I’d definitely resign. Even though I’m very unhappy about the Asset Forfeiture Laws, I have a feeling when he’s gone we’ll all end up regretting it, just like we’re going to regret the antisemite Tillerson.