Schumer Statement on Attorney General Sessions Recusal

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today released the below statement following Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ announcement that he would recuse himself from any probes relating to the 2016 presidential campaign:

“Attorney General Sessions is right to recuse himself, but the fact is he should have done so the moment he was sworn in. The DOJ regulations that led him to recuse himself existed three weeks ago when I first asked him to do so and were just as dispositive then as they are now.

“This episode has echoes of General Flynn's firing and continues a troubling pattern with this administration. They only do the right thing when they are caught doing the wrong thing. The administration didn't fire General Flynn until he was caught lying and the Attorney General didn't recuse himself until he was caught misleading Congress.

“Given these facts, there is no choice but for Mr. Boente to appoint a special prosecutor. While Mr. Boente doesn't have the long political ties to President Trump, he is still in the President’s chain of command and could be fired at will by the President, who has already fired the first person in this position. The DOJ regulations clearly require the appointment of a special prosecutor and the administration shouldn't ignore clear regulations a second time.”