Sessions reportedly submitted resignation after Trump berated him
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions/Gage Skidmore
President Donald Trump reportedly told Jeff Sessions he should resign during a diatribe in May in the Oval Office, leading the U.S. attorney general to send a resignation letter to the White House that was ultimately rejected.
Sessions told associates that the way Trump berated him over his recusal in the probe of Russian influence was the most humiliating experience in his decades of public life, the New York Times reports. Its story is based on information from anonymous current and former administration officials, as well as others briefed on the matter.
Trump ultimately decided not to accept the resignation after top advisers said it would create more problems following his firing of FBI director James Comey.
Politico previously reported on Sessions’ resignation offer, but the circumstances of the Oval Office meeting haven’t been disclosed, the Times says.
Trump’s dressing down of Sessions came after White House counsel Don McGahn learned in a phone call during the meeting that Robert Mueller would be appointed special counsel in the Russia probe. McGahn relayed the information to Trump.
“Almost immediately,” the New York Times reports, Trump “lobbed a volley of insults at Mr. Sessions, telling the attorney general it was his fault they were in the current situation. Mr. Trump told Mr. Sessions that choosing him to be attorney general was one of the worst decisions he had made, called him an ‘idiot,’ and said that he should resign.”
After Trump turned down the resignation, Sessions reportedly stayed on the job because he wanted to have an impact on illegal immigration.
Related articles:
ABAJournal.com: “Trump, Sessions reportedly heading to ‘uneasy detente’ after firing of AG is discouraged”
ABAJournal.com: “Sessions says Trump’s criticism is ‘kind of hurtful’”
