Attorney General Jeff Sessions is leaving the Trump administration.  His resignation comes after a tumultuous reign at the Department of Justice. Mr. Sessions has been the subject of frequent public criticism from President Donald Trump. The Washington Post reports that Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigned at President Trump’s request.Jeff Sessions, aged 71, is a former senator from Alabama. He was the first U.S. senator to endorse Trump’s presidential election campaign.

Departure

Mr. Sessions departs after the President repeatedly criticised him his decision, last year, to recuse himself from Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and the issue of whether, or not, the Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin.  President Trump claims that this decision opened the door to special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into the issues. The President has repeatedly described the Robert Muller’s investigation a "witch hunt."

Acting Attorney-General

President Trump has tweeted that Mr. Sessions will be replaced, on an acting basis, by Matthew G. Whitaker. Mr Whitaker had been serving as Sessions’s chief of staff. The President has also tweeted that a permanent replacement for the post of Attorney General will be nominated at a later date.