Attorney General Jeff Sessions Resigns 'At The Request' Of Donald Trump

Jeff Sessions

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has resigned at the request of the president.

Isn't that like being fired?

Via Buzzfeed:

Sessions’ resignation comes a day after the midterm elections, which was long seen as the expiration date for Sessions’ tenure as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer. Trump made clear his displeasure with Sessions early on, but wasn’t expected to make any major changes in his cabinet before the election.

Trump later confirmed in a tweet that he had accepted Sessions’ resignation and thanked him for his service. An administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Kelly called Sessions before the president held a press conference midday Wednesday to ask for his resignation.

Session’s chief of staff Matthew Whitaker will take over as acting attorney general, while the White House seeks a permanent replacement, Trump tweeted shortly after Sessions’ letter became public.

Whitaker, who will be sworn in on Wednesday, will take on oversight of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, assuming there are no ethics issues that would prevent him from doing so.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein — who was still in his job as of Wednesday afternoon — had taken on responsibility for the probe after Sessions recused last year.

Under Justice Department regulations, Mueller can only be removed from office “for misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest, or for other good cause.”

Dear Mr. President,
At your request, I am submitting my resignation...
Jeff Sessions

Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be bumpy ride. pic.twitter.com/xiUCfbAZ19

— Greg Hogben (@MyDaughtersArmy) November 7, 2018

Hours after the polls closed:

1. Trump fired Jeff Sessions

2. Removed Rosenstein from overseeing the Russia investigation

3. Installed Matt Whitaker to replace Sessions and oversee the Russia investigation. Whitaker has publicly stated that Mueller has exceeded his authority

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) November 7, 2018

Get ready to fight for the Mueller probe. Thank goodness we won the House. Pelosi on watch now! https://t.co/Veyx2w1BLG

— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) November 7, 2018

As Dem leaders fall for Trump's sweet whisperings of "bipartisanship," THIS is who Trump just installed: #MatthewWhitaker at Justice.

A man who explicitly went after #Mueller.https://t.co/Q2x7JQjtm2

— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) November 7, 2018

*jeff sessions sobs in a corner, swearing he can be even more racist if they’d just take him back*

— Kashana (@kashanacauley) November 7, 2018