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Trump calls Sessions 'very weak' on 'Clinton crimes'

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IANS Washington

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday continued his public criticism of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, calling his appointed head of the Justice Department "very weak" on "Hillary Clinton crimes".

"Ukrainian efforts to sabotage Trump campaign -- 'quietly working to boost Clinton.' So where is the investigation A.G.," Trump wrote in the first of several Tuesday morning tweets.

His latest Twitter onslaught came amid reports that Trump was consulting advisers about possibly firing the country's top prosecutor, ABC News reported.

"Attorney General Jeff Sessions has taken a VERY weak position on Hillary Clinton crimes (where are E-mails & DNC server) & Intel leakers!" Trump said in another tweet.

 

Trump had earlier made it clear he was unhappy with Sessions for recusing himself from an FBI inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

"How do you take a job and then recuse yourself?" Trump had told The New York Times. "If he would have recused himself before the job, I would have said, 'Thanks, Jeff, but I can't, you know, I'm not going to take you'."

Trump said that Sessions' recusal was "extremely unfair, and that's a mild word, to the President".

The President's new Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci fanned speculation on Tuesday that Sessions' days could be numbered.

When he was asked if Trump was thinking to fire Sessions, Scaramucci said: "If there's this level of tension in the relationship that's public, you're probably right."

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders also said that the President was "frustrated and disappointed" in Sessions.

"I know that (the President) is certainly frustrated and disappointed in the Attorney General for recusing himself," Sanders said on "Fox and Friends."

"He is continuing to move forward and focus on other things. But that frustration certainly hasn't gone away, and I don't think it will."

When asked if Trump wants Sessions out as Attorney General, the spokeswoman said that is a "decision if the President wants to make, he certainly will."

Despite the public criticism from Trump, Sessions said last week he plans to stay on as Attorney General, "as long as that is appropriate".

--IANS

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First Published: Jul 25 2017 | 8:02 PM IST

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