Trump Asserts Sessions Has Put GOP in Midterm Jeopardy

The president assailed the attorney general on Twitter again Monday
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Sep 3, 2018 5:00 PM CDT
Newest Trump Attack Suggests Sessions Hurt GOP in Midterms
Attorney General Jeff Sessions delivers remarks in Portland, Maine. President Trump is escalating his attacks on the attorney general.   (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

President Trump escalated his attacks on Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Monday, suggesting the Department of Justice put Republicans in midterm jeopardy with recent indictments of two GOP congressmen. Per the AP, Trump tweeted that "Obama era investigations, of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department." He added: "Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff......" The president's striking suggestion that the Justice Department consider politics when making decisions showed his disregard for the agency's independence.

Investigators are never supposed to take into account the political affiliations of the people they investigate. Trump, who did not address the specifics of the charges, did not name the Republicans. But he was apparently referring to the first two Republicans to endorse him in the GOP presidential primaries. Both were indicted on separate charges last month: Rep. Duncan Hunter of California on charges that included spending campaign funds for personal expenses and Rep. Chris Collins of New York on insider trading. Both have proclaimed their innocence. A spokeswoman for Sessions declined comment, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump did not have any public events Monday. He briefly exited the White House to a waiting motorcade, but then went back inside without going anywhere.

(More Donald Trump stories.)

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