Trump Attacks Jeff Sessions As He Heads Into Alabama Senate Runoff

President Donald Trump tore into former Attorney General Jeff Sessions for failing to secure a majority of votes in Tuesday’s Alabama primaries. Sessions, the incumbent, is now heading into a runoff against Tommy Tuberville, Auburn’s former football coach. 

The president suggested that Sessions deserves his current struggles for not being loyal to the president.

“This is what happens to someone who loyally gets appointed Attorney General of the United States & then doesn’t have the wisdom or courage to stare down & end the phony Russia Witch Hunt,” Trump tweeted with a link to a story about the runoff. He added: “Recuses himself on FIRST DAY in office, and the Mueller Scam begins!”

Due to a perceived conflict of interest because of his involvement in Trump’s 2016 Election, Sessions recused himself from the Russia Investigation. Trump has blamed Sessions for the eventual appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the investigation that followed. 

Sessions was in a four-way race with Tuberville, Rep. Bradley Byrne, and former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice Roy Moore. The runoff between the leading candidates, Sessions and Tuberville, is set to take place on March 31st. 

Tuberville responded to the president’s tweet, saying he “could not agree more,” and adding that “help will be on the way” if he defeats Sessions. 

Sessions has been the incumbent for 20 years. The winner of the Republican runoff will then face Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, who already defeated Moore in a 2017 special election after Sessions joined Trump’s administration.