In the wake of Attorney General Jeff Sessions' request that all remaining U.S. attorneys appointed by former President Barack Obama resign, Sen. Dianne Feinstein said she is "very concerned" about the precedent that's being set.
The California Democrat, 83, said in a statement the general protocol is for U.S. attorneys to leave their posts gradually as a new president appoints replacements. Sessions asked the remaining 46 attorneys put in place by the Obama administration to clean out their desks.
"I'm surprised to hear that President Trump and Attorney General Sessions have abruptly fired all 46 remaining U.S. attorneys," said Feinstein, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"At a time when Attorney General Sessions has recused himself from major investigations into the Trump campaign, the independence of federal prosecutors could not be more important."
Feinstein closed her statement by expressing her worry over Sessions' move.
"I'm very concerned about the effect of this sudden and unexpected decision on federal law enforcement," she said.
Last week, Sessions announced he would recuse himself from any federal investigations involving the Trump campaign and Russia. There are several claims of collusion between the two parties, although no concrete evidence has been made public.