That’s true, but he could in the interim assign a cabinet member to the position. Unfortunately, I think there are only 2 lawyers left in his cabinet. Pence and Sessions. Pruitt just left and he would have been the proper immediate lateral move. That is, in my opinion, why they wanted him gone so desperately.
The plot thickens.
There is no lateral move. If the AG position is open, there has to be hearings and a vote in the Senate. No one just moves from one position to another - not allowed.