JUST IN: Attorney General Jeff Sessions Resigns from Trump White House

* Exit comes at request of President Trump

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has resigned at the request of
President Trump. The move follows months of Mr. Trump expressing
his displeasure with Mr. Sessions in critical tweets.

The abrupt move ended Mr. Sessions’ tumultuous tenure as the
nation’s top law-enforcement officer. Throughout, he couldn’t shake
Mr. Trump’s displeasure over the special-counsel investigation into
Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Mr. Trump appointed Mr. Sessions’ Chief of Staff Matthew
Whitaker as acting attorney general.

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) November
7, 2018^[1]

Mr. Sessions’ departure creates instant uncertainty not only at
the Justice Department but also at special counsel Robert Mueller’s
office. Mr. Sessions had recused himself from that investigation
because of his role in the Trump campaign, but a new attorney
general could oversee the probe.

Lawmakers of both parties have warned Mr. Trump against naming a
new attorney general to weaken Mr. Mueller, but some Republicans
more recently have signaled a willingness to consider
replacements.

Any new nominee is certain to be closely scrutinized during the
Senate confirmation process over whether the Mueller probe needed
to be reined in or shut down entirely. Such a move could touch off
a political crisis.