It would be a “big mistake” for President Donald Trump to fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions — and likely represent “the first domino” in a cascade of forced exits, retiring Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., warned Sunday.
In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet The Press,” the retiring senator said “as a body, we’re saying ‘please don’t” amid Trump’s escalated criticism of Sessions.
“There may be a few isolated voices saying that the president ought to fire him now,” Flake said. “He serves at the pleasure of the president. We all know that. But I think it would be a big mistake for the president to fire him now.”
“The concern obviously is that that would be the first domino to fall,” Flake added. “Then what happens with [Deputy Attorney General] Rod Rosenstein? What happens with [special counsel] Bob Mueller?
“And I think firing Jeff Sessions would concern us all that that's the first domino. So I frankly think that the president will hold off. He's made these kind of noises before but then has pulled back.”
Flake also said he’s not likely to endorse any of the candidates in the GOP primary Tuesday for the seat he’s vacating, with Rep. Martha McSally, former state senator Kelli Ward, and former Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio all vying for the spot.
“I wish them well. It's nice… not having to take a position on this,” he said, adding: “Nobody would be asking for it in the Republican primary I can tell you that.”
“This is very much — and you know I'm not happy about it — but this is the president's party right now,” Flake continued. “And I think that we'll be sorry for that in the future, but that's the case right now.”
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