Trump berates Jeff Sessions over use of Obama appointment in rambling tweet

Emily Shugerman
Updated
Attorney General Jeff Sessions listens during a press conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC: Toya Sarno Jordan/Getty Images
Attorney General Jeff Sessions listens during a press conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC: Toya Sarno Jordan/Getty Images

President Donald Trump has mounted a fresh attack on his attorney general, questioning Jeff Session's handling of alleged FBI abuses.

The president lashed out at Mr Sessions' decision to appoint the Department of Justice inspector general to probe the allegations, rather than his own attorneys. The allegations revolve around the FBI's use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in their investigation of possible Trump campaign ties to Russia.

"Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse," Mr Trump tweeted.

"Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc," he added. "Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!"

Mr Sessions responded with a statement saying that the Justice Department had "initiated the appropriate process that will ensure complaints against this department will be fully and fairly acted upon if necessary".

"As long as I am the attorney general, I will continue to discharge my duties with integrity and honour, and this department will continue to do its work in a fair and impartial manner according to the law and Constitution," he said.

Mr Sessions announced the day before that the inspector general would investigate claims that the FBI inappropriately surveilled the Trump campaign using improperly obtained Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants.

The allegations stemmed from a memo written by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee that Mr Trump declassified earlier this month. The memo claims the FBI obtained warrants to surveil former Trump campaign aide Carter Page based largely on an unverified opposition research dossier funded by Hillary Clinton's campaign.

Democrats have pushed back at this idea, claiming in a rebuttal memo that the FBI made only "narrow use" of the opposition research dossier when obtaining warrants.

“We believe the Department of Justice must adhere to the high standards in the FISA court,” Mr Sessions said at a news conference on Tuesday. “Yes it will be investigated. And I think that's just the appropriate thing the inspector general will take that as one of the matters he'll deal with.”

Mr Trump has publicly criticised Mr Sessions numerous times since taking office, sparking speculation that the attorney general could step down or be dismissed.

Last summer, Mr Trump said he was "disappointed" in Mr Session's decision to step aside from the Justice Department investigation of possible Russian meddling in the election. Mr Sessions recused himself after failing to properly divulge conversations he had with the Russian ambassador.

Just last week, Mr Trump lashed out at the attorney general again, tweeting: "Question: If all of the Russian meddling took place during the Obama Administration, right up to January 20th, why aren’t they the subject of the investigation? ... Ask Jeff Sessions!"

Mr Sessions has called the criticism "hurtful" but said he believes Mr Trump is a "strong leader".

“I serve at the pleasure of the president,” Mr Sessions told the Associated Press last year. “I’ve understood that from the day I took the job.”