Trump mulls bypassing Senate if Sessions goes
Some advisers warn against pushing attorney general out due to political ramifications
WASHINGTON— U.S. President Donald Trump has discussed with confidants and advisers in recent days the possibility of installing a new attorney general through a recess appointment if Jeff Sessions leaves the job, but has been warned not to move to push him out because of the political and legal ramifications, according to people briefed on the conversations.
Still raging over Sessions’ recusal from the Justice Department’s escalating Russia investigation, Trump has been talking privately about how he might replace Sessions and possibly sidestep Senate oversight, four people familiar with the issue said.
Two of those people, however, described Trump as musing about the idea rather than outlining a plan of action, and a senior White House official said no action is imminent. Several people familiar with the discussions said Trump’s fury peaked over the weekend and that he and Sessions now seem to be heading toward an uneasy detente.
When asked Wednesday about the president’s discussions of a recess appointment, the White House released a one-sentence denial from Trump: “More fake news from the Amazon Washington Post.” The Post is owned by Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon.com.
Those who have discussed Sessions this week with Trump or with top West Wing officials have drawn different conclusions from their conversations — in part because the president’s nature is to ruminate aloud and float hypotheticals, often changing his views hour to hour. Some advisers have come away convinced that Trump is determined to ultimately remove Sessions, and is seriously considering a recess appointment to replace him — an idea that has been discussed on some of the cable news shows he watches. These advisers said the president would prefer that the attorney general resign rather than be fired.
“My understanding is the Sessions thing ends with Sessions leaving the attorney general job to go spend more time with his family,” said one outside counsellor to the White House, who requested anonymity.
But others involved in the discussions have concluded that Trump is merely venting with his continued assault against Sessions — one described it as “an emotional exercise,” while another called it “just a roughup job.” They said Trump has neither fully articulated nor set in motion a replacement plan.
Trump has long confided privately what he began to say publicly last week — that he blames Sessions’ re- cusal for setting in motion the appointment of Robert Mueller as the special counsel of the Russia probe, which the president sees as an unfair and growing problem for himself and his family.
Sessions has shown no indication of stepping aside voluntarily and was at the White House Wednesday for unrelated meetings with other officials.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the new White House press secretary, told reporters Wednesday that Trump was “disappointed” in Sessions but also said, “You can be disappointed in someone, but still want them to continue to do their job, and that’s where they are.
“He wants him to lead the Department of Justice . . . He wants him to focus on things like immigration, leaks and a number of other issues.”