Sessions Hits Back at Trump, Says Justice Won't be Influenced

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions hit back at President Donald Trump on Thursday after his boss delivered a scathing assessment of his oversight of the Justice Department in a television interview, saying that Sessions did not take control of the Justice Department when he was sworn in.

"I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in, which is why we have had unprecedented success at effectuating the President's agenda, one that protects the safety and security and rights of the American people, reduces violent crime, enforces our immigration laws, promotes economic growth, and advances religious liberty," Sessions said in a statement, read on CNN.

Further, Sessions said that the actions of the Department of Justice "will not be improperly influenced by political considerations" while he is the attorney general.

"I demand the highest standards, where they are not met, I take action," Sessions said.

"However, no nation has a more talented, more dedicated group of law enforcement investigators and prosecutors than the United States. I am proud to serve with them and proud of the work we have done in successfully advancing the rule of law."

In his interview with Fox News, Trump said he only hired Sessions, a former Alabama senator, out of "loyalty" for his service during the campaign. He further complained that Sessions should not have recused himself from the Russia investigation.

"I wanted to stay uninvolved when everybody sees what's happened in the Justice Department," Trump said. "I put justice in quotes. Jeff Sessions recused himself which he shouldn't have done. Or he should have told me. Even my enemies say that Jeff Sessions should have told you that he was going to recuse himself and then you wouldn't have put him in."

However, he said, Sessions took the job and then said he would recuse himself, said Trump.

"I said, 'what kind of man is this,'" said Trump. "He was on the campaign. The only reason I gave him the job was because I felt loyalty. He was an original supporter. He was on the campaign. He knows there was no collusion."