During an interview with Fox and Friends Thursday morning, President Trump again went after Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Trump reiterated he would have never hired Sessions for the high profile position if he had known a recusal on the Russia case was coming.
"When everybody sees what’s going on in the Justice Department, I always put ‘justice’ now with quotes—it’s a very, very sad day. Jeff Sessions recused himself, which he shouldn’t have done. Or he should have told me," Trump said. "He took the job and then he said I’m going to recuse myself. I said, ‘what kind of a man is this?’”
President @realDonaldTrump on if he would fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions pic.twitter.com/MiG6z18mmt
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) August 23, 2018
After months of similar statements coming from the President, Sessions is finally speaking out.
"I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in, which is why we have had unprecedented success at effectuating the president’s agenda – one that protects the safety and security and rights of the American people, reduces violent crime, enforces our immigration laws, promotes economic growth, and advances religious liberty," Sessions said. "While I am attorney general, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations."
"I demand the highest standards, and where they are not met, I take action. However, no nation has a more talented, more dedicated group of law enforcement investigators and prosecutors than the United States," he continued. "I am proud to serve with them and proud of the work we have done in successfully advancing the rule of law."
Meanwhile, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says it's only a matter of time before Sessions loses his job.
"I think there will come a time, sooner rather than later, where it will be time to have a new face and a fresh voice at the Department of Justice,” Graham said during an interview with ABC News over the weekend. “The president’s entitled to an attorney general he has faith in, somebody that’s qualified for the job."