Hi, Folks -

Trump speaks disparagingly about Jeff Sessions for about 90 seconds beginning at the 17-minute mark.

https://youtu.be/5vWgTUXdqGc?t=999

Here's a press release by Jeff Sessions in response to Trump's remarks:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 8, 2020

Contact: John Rogers

john.rogers@jeffsessions.com

JEFF SESSIONS RELEASES STATEMENT RESPONDING TO COMMENTS MADE BY PRESIDENT TRUMP

MOBILE, Ala. – Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions released the following statement early Friday afternoon, in response to recent comments by President Trump:

“I have enormous appreciation for President Trump and all that he has done for our country. I will be voting for him this fall, and working hard to pass his agenda when I return to the Senate next year.

“The specific law for the Department of Justice required that I recuse myself from the Russian collusion investigation. To not recuse myself from that investigation, of which I was a target as a senior campaign official and a witness, would have been breaking the law. I do not and will not break the law. On this matter, I agree with the late Tom Petty’s famous lyric – ‘you can stand me up to the gates of hell, but I won’t back down.’

“I did the right thing for the country and for President Trump. If I, as a target of the investigation, had broken the law by not recusing myself, it would have been a catastrophe for the rule of law and for the President. The Democrats in Congress and the politically motivated bureaucrats all over Washington would have had a field day, alleging a Nixonian cover-up, and the President would not have been fully exonerated.

“Let’s not forget, the notion that we on the Trump campaign colluded with Russia has been proven to be a complete hoax, and the President has been exonerated.

“Finally, I never begged for the job of Attorney General, not 4 times, not 1 time, not ever. The President offered me the job, I took it, I stood up for the truth and performed at the highest levels. Doing the right thing is not weakness, it is strength. My foundation is built on rock, not sand.”

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...and here's Sessions on Fox News later in the day:

Sessions defends himself against Trump's attacks: 'I did the right thing'

https://youtu.be/xEPeAmNC-Iw

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