President Trump Wanted to Fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions for Not 'Protecting' Him. The Constitution Says That's OK.

Since taking office nearly a year ago, President Donald Trump has shredded all kinds of political norms, especially when it comes to the justice system.

From attacking judges and FBI agents to calling for investigations of his political enemies, Trump has alarmed many in legal circles over his apparent disregard for the traditional independence of the Justice Department.

But so far Trump has upheld one crucial norm: He has not fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

That’s not to say he doesn’t necessarily want to. Trump reportedly erupted in anger over Sessions’ decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation in March, saying “he needed his attorney general to protect him,” according to a recent New York Timesaccount. The story also recounts that Trump later asked Sessions to resign, before reconsidering the next day.