SESSIONS EXPIRED
Donald Trump FIRES Attorney General Jeff Sessions and replaces him with a loyalist sparking fears over future of Russian meddling probe
In his resignation letter, Sessions said he was resigning at the President's request
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has FIRED US Attorney General Jeff Sessions - and replaced him with a loyalist.
The President tweeted his thanks to Sessions in a pointed statement, and announced interim replacement Matt Whitaker - a heavy critic of Robert Mueller who has called the Russia probe a "witch hunt".
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The appointment of Whitaker has thrown the Russia investigation into doubt as Democrats rushed to claim Trump has "something to hide" before the House turns blue in January, and called for Robert Mueller's probe to be "protected".
Announcing Sessions' resignation - which the president requested - Trump said: "We are pleased to announce that Matthew G. Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become our new Acting Attorney General of the United States. He will serve our Country well.
"We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date."
During his two-year tenure, Sessions and Trump endured a fractious relationship as while Sessions was one of the president's earliest supporters, relations had become strained in recent months.
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In the resignation letter, Sessions said he was "honoured to be sworn in as Attorney General", and worked to "implement the law enforcement agenda" that formed a central part of Trump's campaign.
Just weeks into the attorney general's tumultuous tenure, he stepped aside from the investigation into the alleged meddling between the president's campaign and Russia.
Trump blamed Sessions' decision for opening the door to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller, who took over the Russia investigation and began examining whether Trump's hectoring of Sessions was part of a broader effort to obstruct justice and stymie the probe.
Top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee Rep. Jerry Nadler says he wants "answers immediately" after Jeff Sessions was forced out as attorney general by President Donald Trump.
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What does Whitaker's appointment mean for the Mueller probe?
It's thought that Whitaker's temporary appointment could have a significant impact on the scope of Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's alleged interferance in the 2016 presidential election.
Whitaker - who will be overseeing the probe - wrote an op-ed in 2017 for in which he said Mueller's investigation was "going too far" and supported the President's claim that if the probe would cross a red line if it investigated the finances of Trump and his family.
And in July 2017, Whitaker theorised that Sessions could be replaced with someone who would reduce the investigation's budget, telling the broadcaster: "That attorney general doesn't fire Bob Mueller, but he just reduces his budget to so low that his investigation grinds to almost a halt."
Chuck Rosenberg, a former U.S. attorney and general counsel at the FBI warned: "If he was selected because he doesn't think it's an appropriate investigation, then I'm deeply concerned."
According to Whitaker does not need to be sworn in or approved by the Senate as Acting Attorney General, under the Federal Vacancies Act.
Whitaker is allowed to serve 210 days before a full time replacement - approved by the senate - must be appointed.
The House of Representatives is set to return on January 3, 2019 - 57 days after Whitaker's appointment.
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Nadler is in line to become the chairman of the Judiciary panel when Democrats take control of the House in January. Last night, he tweeted that "we will be holding people accountable."
Democrats worry that firing Sessions is a path to removing special counsel Robert Mueller and trying to end the probe into the Russia investigation.
Nadler says he wants to know why Trump is making the change and "who has authority over Special Counsel Mueller's investigation?"
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says it is "paramount" that the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller be protected by President Donald Trump's new attorney general.
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Schumer says he finds the timing of Sessions' departure "very suspect", and tweeted that the president "has something to hide".
The New York Democrat says it would spark a "constitutional crisis" if Trump forced out Sessions as a "prelude" to ending or limiting Mueller's investigation.
Former senior advisor to President Obama, Dan Pfeiffer warned: "Trump is ending the Mueller investigation right before our eyes and if you expect the Republicans to do anything about it you have been sleepwalking through the last two years."
Democrat Congressman - and ranking member of the Ethics Committee - Ted Deutch also said the resignation is the "first step" toward removing the special counsel and "burying its findings" before the Dems take power next year.
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