Sessions declines to recuse himself from Cohen probe: report

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has decided he will not recuse himself from the probe into President Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen but will think about taking a step back from some questions tied to the investigation, Bloomberg reports. 

Sessions’s involvement in the Cohen probe will allow him access to briefings on the status of the investigation being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan and to voice his opinion on certain decisions made by prosecutors, according to the report.

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The attorney general’s reported decision to not recuse himself from the Cohen probe is in contrast to his decision involving federal probes into alleged meddling in the 2016 by Russia.

Sessions angered the president last year when he made the decision to recuse himself from the federal probe into ties between Trump campaign associates and Russia.

He has since been the subject of Trump’s wrath in a series of tweets and public comments. 

Sessions’s decision to remain involved in the Cohen investigation could put him in a position for Trump to ask him to disclose details and information about the probe, Bloomberg noted.

The FBI raided Cohen’s office and home earlier this month, taking emails, tax documents and records related to his $130,000 payment to adult-film star Stormy Daniels.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, said she received the payment shortly before the 2016 election in an effort to prevent her from speaking about her alleged affair with Trump. 

The White House has not ruled out pardoning Cohen in the future. 

“It’s hard to close a door on something that hasn’t taken place. I don’t like to discuss or comment on hypothetical situations that may or may not ever happen,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said during Monday’s press briefing.

Trump snapped at a reporter on Tuesday who asked whether he would consider pardoning Cohen.

“Thank you very much,” Trump told ABC News’s Jon Karl after he asked about a possible pardon. “Stupid question.”