Trump attacks Sessions over prosecutions of Republicans - BBC News

Sept. 4, 2018.

Trump attacks Sessions over prosecutions of Republicans

Jeff Sessions has been a frequent target of Mr Trump's very public ire
US President Donald Trump has accused Attorney General Jeff Sessions of damaging the midterm re-election chances of two Republican members of Congress by prosecuting them.

The justice department's decision to file charges against the men put "easy wins" in doubt, Mr Trump tweeted.

One is accused of insider trading and the other of campaign violations.

The tweet has sparked fresh criticism that Mr Trump is illegally seeking to interfere with the justice system.

The president has often clashed with Mr Sessions over the inquiry into claims that Russia tried to help him win the 2016 election.

The criticism began in the early months of the administration last year, when the attorney general recused himself from the investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller.

Mr Trump has repeatedly described the inquiry as a "witch hunt".

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His latest barb against Mr Sessions came with just over two months to go before the midterm elections on 6 November. The Democrats are seeking to wrest control of the House of Representatives from the Republicans.

In a tweet, Mr Trump criticised the prosecution of "two very popular Republican Congressmen".

Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
 Two long running, 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. Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff......

4:25 AM - Sep 4, 2018

Last month Representative Christopher Collins was charged with participating in an insider trading scheme. He has denied wrongdoing but said he would not seek re-election.

Later in August Representative Duncan Hunter and his wife were indicted for allegedly using campaign funds to pay for personal expenses. They too deny the charges.

The investigation into Mr Hunter began under the presidency of Barack Obama, but the Collins inquiry was launched last year.

Both men were early supporters of Mr Trump when he launched his bid for the presidency.

The justice department has not commented on the tweet. But it has drawn fire from a number of critics, including Mr Trump's fellow party members.

Republican Senator Ben Sasse said the justice department should remain politically neutral in deciding whether or not to prosecute.

"The United States is not some banana republic with a two-tiered system of justice - one for the majority party and one for the minority party. These two men have been charged with crimes because of evidence, not because of who the president was when the investigations began."

US political scientist and columnist Brian Klass called Mr Trump's outburst "insane".

Brian Klaas
✔
@brianklaas
 No exaggeration: if any other elected leader in a Western democracy tried to instruct their top law enforcement official to shield their political allies from prosecution for political reasons like this, they would be forced to resign within hours. This is insane.

Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
Two long running, 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. Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff......

3:52 PM - Sep 4, 2018
Other critics argue that midterm elections are not a good reason to delay prosecution.

Skip Twitter post by @SMKleinman

Steven Kleinman
@SMKleinman
Replying to @realDonaldTrump
Mr. President,

Are you suggesting that members of Congress are above the law? The Department of Justice clearly has sufficient evidence to charge Mssrs. Collins and Hunter with felonies. The courts shall decide their guilt or innocence.

This is disgraceful.

Best Regards,
Steve

2:03 PM - Sep 4, 2018

Jason Hermes
@JasonHermes77
Replying to @Jay_jay_mars and 2 others
No, he's  suggesting that members of Congress who support him are above the law!

4:01 PM - Sep 4, 2018

Preet Bharara
✔
@PreetBharara
 I still can’t get over this tweet. It’s the most outrageous and damning proof of Trump’s utter contempt for the rule of law to come directly out of his mouth. It’s also full of basic and provable lies. It will be Exhibit A in his undoing.

Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
Two long running, 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. Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff......

3:04 PM - Sep 4, 2018