Donald trump calls for attorney general jeff session to end russia inquiry
On July 22, 2017, Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, publicly called for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to end the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, which was being led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
In a series of tweets, Trump wrote:
"Why is that Hillary Clintons family and Dems dealings with Russia are not being looked at, but my trifling dealings with Russia (a quick and insignificant meeting) are being looked at right now. Can someone please inform the President that the FBI and DOJ are not under his control? #DrainTheSwamp"
"Russia talks with the Trump Campaign about an adoption program for Russian children with special needs. Putin says, 'We can work with you.' Hillary Clinton and the Dems, on the other hand, have rigged the system for their own benefit. #DrainTheSwamp"
"Terrible! The Russian Witch Hunt continues, but the Fake News Media refuses to cover the real story. #DrainTheSwamp"
Trump's tweets were widely seen as an attempt to undermine the investigation and to pressure Sessions to end it. Sessions had previously recused himself from the investigation due to his own involvement in the Trump campaign, and Mueller had been appointed as special counsel to oversee the investigation.
The tweets sparked widespread criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, who accused Trump of attempting to obstruct justice and undermine the rule of law. Many called for Sessions to ignore Trump's demands and allow the investigation to continue.
In response to Trump's tweets, Sessions issued a statement saying that he would not be influenced by the President's comments and would continue to follow the law. Mueller's team also issued a statement saying that they would continue to investigate the matter without interference.
The investigation ultimately led to the indictment of several Trump associates, including Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen, and the conviction of several others. In 2019, Mueller submitted his report to Attorney General William Barr, who concluded that there was no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. However, the report did not exonerate Trump of obstruction of justice, and the matter remains a subject of ongoing debate and controversy.