Sessions had voluntarily removed himself from the Russia probe, inviting Trump's fury. Trump has often criticised Sessions as 'very weak' and 'disgraceful'
Washington: United States president Donald Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday. Trump had repeatedly criticised Sessions because he recused himself from the Russia investigation over its interference in the 2016 presidential election.
An acting attorney general and Republican loyalist Matthew G Whitaker was appointed as Sessions's temporary replacement.
Observers suggest that Trump's move will have potential implication on special counsel Robert Mueller's probe as Whitaker has been overtly critical of the Mueller's team to investigate beyond allegations Trump's campaign colluded with Russia in 2016 and other ties between the President, his family and aides, and Kremlin- an investigation the White House calls a ‘witch hunt’.
For the past several months, Trump has been expressing his displeasure at Sessions's functioning in public meetings and social media platform.
In a tweet on Wednesday 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 (sic)."
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....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)"We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date," he tweeted.
Trump's tweet came less than an hour after his marathon press conference at the White House where he told reporters that he will be making announcements about changes in his Cabinet and senior White House and administrative positions in a week.
In a one-page resignation to Trump, Sessions made it clear that the resignation came "at your request".
"Since the day I was honoured to be sworn in as attorney general of the United States, I came to work at the Department of Justice every day determined to do my duty and serve my country," Sessions wrote.
With agency inputs
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