Tapper on Sessions ouster: ‘A slow-motion Saturday Night Massacre’


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CNN’s Jake Tapper on Wednesday called the resignation of Attorney General Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsElection fallout: What to watch for now The Hill’s Morning Report — Judgment Day: New data suggest big Dem gains in House, governors’ races Election Countdown: Trump frames midterm as referendum on presidency | Senate seats most likely to flip | Huge turnout raises Dem hopes | Controversy over Trump ad | Weather forecast has storm headed to key states | DOJ to monitor voting in 19 states MORE another chapter in “a slow-motion, multi-monthed Saturday Night Massacre.” 

“After President TrumpDonald John TrumpMidterms: The winners and losers GOP Rep. Mike Bost wins reelection in Illinois Sisolak becomes first Dem to win Nevada governor race since 1994 MORE fired [former FBI Director] James ComeyJames Brien ComeyComey cheers midterm results: ‘The giant is stirring’ Election Countdown: Election Day edition | Hour-by-hour viewer’s guide | What to watch as results come in | Pundits’ predictions | Election to deliver verdict on Trump | GOP braces for possibility of losing House | Dems see slim hopes for taking Senate James Comey knocks on doors for Virginia Democrat Jennifer Wexton MORE, I said that we are all going through a slow-motion, multi-monthed Saturday Night Massacre,” Tapper said on CNN. 

Trump’s firing of Comey last year drew similar comparisons to the so-called 1973 “Saturday Night Massacre,” when then-President Nixon fired the special prosecutor leading the Watergate investigation. The firing prompted the resignation of the attorney general and deputy attorney general. 

“I’m not saying [Trump] is responsible for anything like what happened under Watergate,” Tapper added. “We have no idea what happened and what [special counsel Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE] will turn up.” 

Tapper during the show also called for the network to change the chyron from “Jeff Sessions Resigns” to “President Trump Fires Attorney General Jeff Sessions.” 

Session’s resignation letter says that he is stepping down at Trump’s request.

The chyron changed shortly after Tapper’s suggestion. 

Sessions resigned as the top Justice Department official on Wednesday after months of criticism by Trump over his decision to recuse himself from Mueller’s ongoing Russia investigation.

Reports also emerged on Wednesday that Deputy Attorney General Rod RosensteinRod Jay RosensteinElection fallout: What to watch for now The Hill’s Morning Report — Presented by PhRMA — Trump, Obama battle for the Senate The Hill’s Morning Report — Presented by PhRMA — Final stretch to the midterms amid backdrop of violence MORE is no longer overseeing the Mueller probe. The new acting attorney general, Matthew Whitaker, will begin overseeing the investigation. 

Trump has consistently denounced Mueller’s investigation as a “witch hunt,” insisting there was no collusion between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.

Trump’s outspoken renunciation of the probe, Sessions and Rosenstein has long drawn comparisons to Nixon’s conduct during Watergate. 

 


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