Trump attacks Sessions over charging of GOP congressmen

Donald Trump has accuses Jeff Sessions of jeopardising GOP ­electoral hopes by allowing two congressmen to be charged.

‘Not some banana republic’: Donald Trump. Picture: AP

Donald Trump has launched his most extraordinary attack yet on Attorney-General Jeff Sessions, accusing him of jeopardising ­Republican hopes in the mid-term elections by allowing two Republican congressmen to be charged.

One of them, Chris Collins, has been charged with insider trading relating to his dealings with a small Australian biotech company.

The US President’s unprompted attack on Twitter is the latest in his escalating campaign against Mr Sessions, fuelling speculation that he is looking to sack him ­before the November elections.

During yesterday’s Labour Day holiday, as most of Washington was on leave, Mr Trump delivered his Twitter barrage against Mr Sessions.

“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,” he tweeted. “Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time.”

He then added sarcastically, “Good job Jeff.”

Mr Trump was referring to charges that have been brought against New York’s Mr Collins and also Californian representative Duncan Hunter, two of the President’s earliest supporters.

Mr Hunter and his wife Margaret have been charged with splurging more than $US250,000 ($347, 650) in campaign funds on personal expenses, from international travel to school fees to theatre tickets. These include $US14,000 on a family holiday in Italy and $US3300 at fast-food restaurants.

Mr Collins was arrested last month after he allegedly used insider knowledge about a negative development involving Sydney’s Innate Immunotherapeutics in which he and his family were major shareholders.

‘Good job Jeff’; Attorney-General Jeff Sessions. Picture: AP

When Mr Collins heard that tests had failed to prove that the company had a lucrative new drug, he is alleged to have urged his family to dump their shares before the news became public.

Although both congressmen are in relatively safe seats, Democrats are campaigning hard in the hope of winning them in the ­November 6 poll.

Mr Trump’s tweets yesterday are controversial because the Justice Department has a long tradition of maintaining political independence. The President’s tweet implies that Mr Sessions, as the Attorney-General presiding over the department, should have prevented the prosecutions for political purposes to help the electoral prospects of the party.

The tweets drew a sharp rebuke from senior Republican senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate judiciary committee.

“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,” Senator Sasse said. “These two men have been charged with crimes because of evidence, not because of who the President was when the investigations began.

“Instead of commenting on ongoing investigations and prosecutions, the job of the President of the United States is to defend the constitution and protect the impartial administration of justice.”

Mr Trump was wrong in claiming the investigation of Mr Collins began under the Obama administration. The alleged insider trading occurred in June last year, five months into Mr Trump’s term.

Mr Trump followed up his tweet on Mr Sessions with a second one.

“The Democrats, none of whom voted for Jeff Sessions, must love him now. Same thing with Lyin’ James Comey,” he said.

“The Dems all hated him, wanted him out, thought he was disgusting — UNTIL I FIRED HIM! Immediately he became a wonderful man, a saint like figure in fact. Really sick!”

Mr Trump has been lobbying members of congress personally to try to garner their support if he sacks Mr Sessions. He has never forgiven Mr Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia investigation early on because of misleading statements that Mr Sessions had made about his contacts with Russian officials.

Mr Trump said he would never have hired Mr Sessions if he knew he would recuse himself — a move the President blames for the ­appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller by Mr Sessions’ deputy Rod Rosenstein.

In recent months Mr Trump’s attacks on Mr Sessions have intensified, prompting a rare rebuke from Mr Sessions last month, who declared he “will not be improperly influenced by political considerations”.

Mr Mueller’s investigation is examining whether Mr Trump’s treatment of Mr Sessions and sacking of FBI director Mr Comey in May last year amount to ­obstruction of justice.