Donald Trump regrets picking Jeff Sessions for attorney general, as a top Republican lawmaker denies FBI spied on election campaign
Trump made his remarks after House Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy said he wished the president had nominated another attorney general; but Gowdy also undercut Trump’s claim that the FBI spied on his campaign
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he wishes he’d never made Jeff Sessions his attorney general because the former Republican senator recused himself from the investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Trump endorsed remarks made by House Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy about Sessions Wednesday morning, even as he ignored Gowdy’s strong dismissal of the president’s claim that the FBI planted a “spy” in his campaign.
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In a series of tweets, Trump approvingly quoted Gowdy’s appearance on CBS This Morning, where he criticised Sessions for removing himself from oversight of the investigation that is now being run by special counsel Robert Mueller.
Gowdy said that Trump had many other options for the nation’s top law enforcement officer.
“There are lots of really good lawyers in the country, he could have picked somebody else!” Gowdy, a Republican and Tea Party member, said. Citing the lawmaker’s comments in a Twitter posting, Trump added: “And I wish I did!”
In the same interview, though, Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor, defended the Justice Department and FBI.