Few People Could Get Confirmed If Trump Fires Sessions—And None Of Them Want The Job

US President Donald Trump(L)sits with Attorney General Jeff Sessions on December 15, 2017 in Quantico, Virginia, before participating in the FBI National Academy graduation ceremony. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP) ... US President Donald Trump(L)sits with Attorney General Jeff Sessions on December 15, 2017 in Quantico, Virginia, before participating in the FBI National Academy graduation ceremony. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP) (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Senate Republicans suspect that only a sitting senator who is unconditionally loyal to President Donald Trump and respects Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe could get both chosen and confirmed if Trump fires Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

But none of them want the job.

According to a Wednesday Politico report, Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT), all hypothetical candidates, have begged off and asserted that they are happy where they are.

It’s not hard to see why. With Trump’s almost weekly pummeling of Sessions in the public eye and complete lack of attention to, much less appreciation for, the success with which Sessions has pushed through his agenda, the job can’t seem very attractive.

Per Politico, Trump wants a pit bull defender, someone in the role who would only answer to him and look out for his interests. That kind of person would likely fail confirmation, assuming that Democrats vote as a bloc and are joined by some Republicans. One such Republican is Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE), who has said that it would be “really difficult” for him to support a Sessions replacement.

The confirmation stumbling block is plaguing Trump in other departments as well.

Feeling misled by his Defense Secretary’s “Mad Dog” moniker, Trump has reportedly taken to calling Jim Mattis “Moderate Mattis” in private, and is eager to replace him.

Unfortunately for Trump, his shortlist includes Sens. Graham and Tom Cotton (R-AR), both of whom have expressed disinterest in the job. According to Politico, Republicans also seem to be more vehement in their support for Mattis than Sessions.

As Politico points out, since Scott Pruitt’s departure, the EPA administrator job is still open as well.

If the blue wave becomes more like a tsunami and the Republicans lose their Senate majority after the midterms, these posts are even less likely to change hands.

Latest News
81
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for fgs fgs says:

    It seems like forever now, Ive been asking what kind of rat wants to board the sinking ship? The answer, made clear at last by Kellyanne’s anonymous op-ed, is an arrogant rat, who thinks she’s saving the ship from sinking singlehandedly. There’s no shortage of arrogant rats in DC, so I guess I don’t see the problem.

  2. Avatar for noonm noonm says:

    Nobody willing to sign up to be Trump’s verbal punching bag? Who would have guessed?

  3. Trump does not understand that those he considers real men do not like serving a sissy like himself.
    Some are using him for their own agendas and some are trying to protect our country and some are starting to understand this fuck head is destroying our country.

  4. Trump wants a pit bull defender, someone in the role who would only answer to him and look out for his interests.
    Shorter version
    He wants a lackey who will violate the constitution.
    Oh remember all the hubub that Eric Holder was “too close” to Obama
    Quaint times indeed

  5. The only person who wants the job is Eric.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

75 more replies

Participants

Avatar for austin_dave Avatar for fgs Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for headhunter212 Avatar for epicurus Avatar for navamske Avatar for becca656 Avatar for sandyh Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for joelopines Avatar for borisjimbo Avatar for alyoshakaramazov1 Avatar for dickweed Avatar for khaaannn Avatar for gharlane Avatar for georgeh Avatar for ggates Avatar for lizzymom Avatar for canadachris Avatar for maximus Avatar for demosthenes59 Avatar for 10c Avatar for occamscoin

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: