BREAKING: Attorney General Jeff Sessions “Resigns”

The Wall Street Journal reports:

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. 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.

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

….We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2018

BREAKING: Trump just fired AG JEFF Sessions.

— Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) November 7, 2018

BREAKING: Sessions is fired @ktbenner @peterbakernyt https://t.co/u2ZLwzT3Lf

— Lara Jakes (@jakesNYT) November 7, 2018

By resigning rather than being fired, Sessions mooted the question about whether the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 applies to vacancies created through firing.

It clearly applies here., and Whitaker is clearly covered by 5 U.S.C. § 3345(a)(3):https://t.co/U3QpULJ4G3 https://t.co/k5W3WBUB5S

— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) November 7, 2018

And @jaketapper asks for the chyron to be changed to say Trump fired Sessions…

— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) November 7, 2018

In his resignation letter, SESSIONS writes, "we have restored and upheld the rule of law — a glorious tradition that each of us has a responsibility to safeguard." pic.twitter.com/w47dnvNc3X

— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) November 7, 2018