Lindsey Graham calls for Trump-Russia special prosecutor, wants Jeff Sessions to recuse himself
Since the news broke this evening that Attorney General Jeff Sessions colluded with the Russian Ambassador while he was acting as a Donald Trump campaign adviser, and then lied about it under oath during his confirmation hearings, reactions from both parties are coming fast and furious. The most notable reaction thus far comes from influential Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who now says Sessions is not in a position to investigate Trump.
When Senator Graham was presented with the news during a CNN town hall this evening, shortly after it broke, he responded with the following: “If there is something there, and it goes up the chain of investigation, it is clear to me, that Jeff Sessions, who is my dear friend, cannot make this decision about Trump.” Graham appeared to be including the “if there is something there” caveat because he hadn’t yet seen the report first hand — but the Washington Post report tonight on Sessions is definitive and damning. It’s now possible, perhaps even probable, that Graham’s close ally Senator John McCain will also call on Sessions to recuse himself.
This makes Graham the second Republican in Congress to call for a special prosecutor into Trump-Russia. Republican Congressman Darrell Issa called for a special prosecutor on Friday night during his appearance on the Bill Maher show on HBO, a move which at the time lacked context. But in hindsight it’s possible that Issa had just learned of Jeff Sessions’ collusion with Russia, and knew that it would be imminently coming out in the media, and wanted to get out ahead of it. Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress are throwing down the gauntlet over Sessions.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has publicly called on Jeff Sessions tonight to resign as Attorney General. Influential House Democrat Elijah Cummings, who sits on the same committee as Darrell Issa and has long done battle with him, is also calling for Sessions to resign. Those calls will grow louder by morning. Help us investigate Trump-Russia!
Not My President • Impeach Trump Now
