Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has reiterated his position on Attorney General Jeff Sessions' future, telling the conservative Washington Examiner he no longer cares if President Trump wants to replace his AG.
Grassley first made a shift on Sessions back in August when Bloomberg Politics reported key Republicans seemed to be urging the president not to fire Sessions until after the midterms.
Grassley says he will make time to hold confirmation hearings should the president need them.
“The answer that I gave a year ago was directed directly at the president that I honestly didn’t have time to consider anything else. It was also somewhat of a defense of Sessions,” Grassley said. “Now, I’m kind of nonchalant about defending Sessions. I like him very much personally, and I want him to be a good attorney general, but the president’s got a right to have somebody in there he wanted.”
“Yes,” he added when asked about having time on the calendar. “I’m not just saying that not just about Sessions. I got time [for anything].”
Grassley has had a notable falling out with Sessions on policy after the attorney general opposed legislation that would couple prison reform with alterations to mandatory minimum sentences. Sessions has argued against easing sentences for various crimes.
Grassley now 'nonchalant about defending Sessions' if Trump moves to replace him (Washington Examiner)