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Analysis

Jeff Sessions became Donald Trump's punchbag - his firing was inevitable

The decision to recuse himself from the Russia probe was seen as a betrayal by the US president, writes Sky's Amanda Walker.

Donald Trump has had a difficult relationship with Jeff Sessions during his presidency
Image: Donald Trump has had a difficult relationship with Jeff Sessions during his presidency
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The firing of the attorney general is no shock - but nobody expected it to come quite so soon after the midterms.

It is an abrupt end to a difficult tenure for Jeff Sessions, who was the first Republican senator to back Donald Trump in his quest for the presidency.

The former Alabama senator was a Trump loyalist from the original campaign team - a devoted enforcer of his tough immigration policy.

Jeff Sessions is the latest White House official to leave since Donald Trump took office
Image: Mr Sessions is the latest White House official to leave since Mr Trump took office

But everything changed when he recused himself from the Russia investigation after it transpired that he had failed to disclose meetings with Russian officials.

It essentially paved the way for Robert Mueller's investigation - the issue blighting Trump's presidency.

From then on, Mr Sessions became Mr Trump's punchbag.

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The president was clearly deeply affronted by what he saw as a personal betrayal. He said he would have picked someone else if he had known Mr Sessions would recuse himself.

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His eventual firing seemed inevitable.

Now Mr Trump has picked someone else - Matthew Whitaker.

Matthew Whitaker was the chief of staff to Mr Sessions
Image: Matthew Whitaker was Mr Sessions' chief of staff

In a legal commentator role, he suggested Mr Mueller limit the scope of his investigation.

He also said Mr Sessions' replacement might reduce Mr Mueller's budget "so low that his investigation grinds almost to a halt".

That is very much in line with the president's view of what he calls the "witch hunt" against him.

Democrats are raising the alarm, saying Mr Whitaker's view should force him to recuse himself.

They say protecting Mr Mueller and his investigation is paramount - and with their majority in the House of Representatives, they now have a lot more scope to do just that.