Trump-Sessions spat escalates over FBI probe

The ongoing squabble between President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions heated up Wednesday after the president took to Twitter to criticize Sessions’ defense of the FBI as “disgraceful.” Sessions normally endures his boss’ tirades without comment, but this time he returned fire, releasing a statement saying he would continue to do his job “with integrity and honor.” Despite the ongoing friction, Sessions has given no indication he intends to step down. The attorney general drew Trump’s ire this time for suggesting the Justice Department’s inspector general would evaluate whether the FBI wrongly obtained a warrant to monitor a Trump campaign associate’s communication. Trump questioned why Sessions wouldn’t use Justice Department lawyers for the investigation, noting the inspector general is an “Obama guy.” Sessions, a former U.S. senator from Alabama, became one of Trump’s earliest supporters during the 2016 presidential campaign, but their relationship soured after Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation. Sessions reportedly offered to step down last year amid ongoing criticism from the president, but Trump refused to accept his resignation.