President Trump on Wednesday launched a new attack on Attorney General Jeff Sessions, calling it “disgraceful” that he has asked an inspector general and not Justice Department lawyers to investigate potential surveillance abuses.
The president said the Justice Department’s inspector general is ill-equipped to probe allegations that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was improperly used to monitor members of his transition team.
“Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse,” Trump tweeted.
“Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc. Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!”
Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse. Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc. Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2018
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Michael Horowitz, the Justice Department inspector general, was confirmed to his position during the Obama administration in 2012.
Horowitz is overseeing an investigation into the FBI and Justice Department’s handling of the probe into former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while she was secretary of State.
That probe reportedly helped lead to the early resignation of Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, a frequent Trump target. Horowitz also uncovered a series of text messages between FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, which led special counsel Robert Mueller to remove Strzok from the team probing Russia’s election interference.
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JUST IN: Trump attacks Sessions over his management of surveillance investigation: "Disgraceful!" https://t.co/mtXs3sgjHq pic.twitter.com/7KDTdZ2Ygt
— The Hill (@thehill) February 28, 2018
Somebody really needs to brief the head of the executive branch on what executive branch IGs do, and are for. https://t.co/cmmQscvMj0
— John Schindler (@20committee) February 28, 2018
SESSIONS responds to @realDonaldTrump's complaints about him this morning —>
"As long as I am the Attorney General, I will continue to discharge my duties with integrity and honor." pic.twitter.com/8lUAiW2qq0
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) February 28, 2018
I couldn’t agree more. @USAGSessions must be part of the Bush/Romney/McCain Republican Establishment. He probably supported @realDonaldTrump early in campaign to hide who he really is. Or he could just be a coward. https://t.co/9D1ppRTSyp
— Jerry Falwell (@JerryFalwellJr) February 28, 2018
This is pathetic. Truly pathetic. It’s either pathetically paranoid or pathetically hackish. I have my disagreements with @USAGSessions but he’s clearly more honest and principled than @JerryFalwellJr https://t.co/adRqoeiiU6
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 28, 2018
Gowdy says he has "complete confidence" in DOJ IG Horowitz amid attacks from Trump, noting Senate confirmed him w/o a single 'no' vote: "He has been fair, fact centric, and appropriately confidential with his work," says he should be given the "independence to complete his work”
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 28, 2018
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