The exact same day Senator Jeff Sessions was sworn in as Attorney General of the United States, Donald Trump secretly, and without any fanfare did something most people don't even realize he did.
Knowing full well that Sessions lied at his Senate confirmation hearing about meeting with the Russian ambassador, Trump signed an executive order that changed the succession at the Justice Department.
In years past, if the Attorney General resigned, the Deputy Attorney General would assume his/her duties. Makes sense, right? Made sense to all presidents... until Trump.
Now, if (when) the Attorney General resigns or recuses himself, his position will be assumed by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia--Dana Boente. This is the guy Trump also appointed as "acting Deputy Attorney General" when he fired the Deputy Attorney General for doing her job.
Where's the independent special prosecutor?
How about a Ken Starr to look into this? Or a Leon Jaworski? Or an Archibald Cox?
Why was Watergate or Bill Clinton's person conduct important enough for a special prosecutor, but Orange Hitler and his Tangerine Minions' ties to Russia are not?
Here's why--because the law lapsed in 1999. Now, the sole person responsible for deciding whether a special prosecutor should be appointed is the Attorney General. And since the Attorney General cannot prosecute or investigate himself, his successor, Trump's hand-picked successor, is the only person with that authority.
So it ain't happening.
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