Thomson Reuters
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) asks a question as former acting Attorney General Sally Yates testifies about potential Russian interference in the presidential election before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill
Asked for his reaction to Trump's public criticism of Sessions in recent days, Graham said that the president's "effort to basically, marginalize and humiliate the attorney general is not going over well in the Senate" or in "the conservative world."
"As a human being, I think he should show respect for Jeff Sessions as a person," Graham said. "Jeff Sessions was the most loyal supporter of Donald Trump."
"If you believe Jeff Sessons should be fired, use the power you have and accept the consequences. I hope it stops."
Graham, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, added that "there will be no confirmation hearing for a new attorney general in 2017," and that if Sessions is fired, "there will be holy hell to pay."
Political analysts have said that Trump - who has expressed anger with Sessions for recusing himself in March from the investigation into Russia's election interference and whether the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow - appears to be backing Sessions into a corner with the hope that he will resign.
According to the
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Attorney General Jeff Sessions prepares to speak before a meeting of the Attorney General's Organized Crime Council and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Executive Committee to discuss implementation of the President's Executive Order 13773, at the Department of Justice, Tuesday, April 18, 2017, in Washington.
The Washington Post reported on Wednesday night that Trump has been mulling a possible recess appointment to replace Sessions that could bypass the Senate confirmation process. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani of New York were reportedly being considered earlier this week.
Some have speculated that Trump wants to fire Sessions so he can appoint someone who is not recused from the Russia investigation. That appointee could then dismiss Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the FBI's investigation into Russia's election interference and possible collusion between Trump and Moscow.
Trump is wary of Mueller's examination of his business dealings, and has reportedly become so disturbed by the path Mueller's investigation seems to be going down that he and his legal team are searching for ways to discredit and possibly fire him. But experts say there is no evidence that Mueller has engaged in any inappropriate behavior that would warrant his removal.
Graham, for his part, said that "any effort to go after Mueller could be the beginning of the end of the Trump presidency, unless Mueller did something wrong."