Trump attacks Sessions
US President Donald Trump has accused Attorney General Jeff Sessions of damaging the midterm re-election chances of two Republican members of Congress by prosecuting them.
The justice department's decision to file charges against the men put "easy wins" in doubt, Trump tweeted. One is accused of insider trading and the other of campaign violations.
The tweet has sparked fresh criticism that Trump is illegally seeking to interfere with the justice system. The president has often clashed with Sessions over the inquiry into claims that Russia tried to help him win the 2016 election.
The criticism began in the early months of the administration last year, when the attorney general recused himself from the investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller.
Trump has repeatedly described the inquiry as a "witch hunt". His latest barb against Sessions came with just over two months to go before the midterm elections on 6 November. The Democrats are seeking to wrest control of the House of Representatives from the Republicans.
In a tweet, Trump criticized the prosecution of "two very popular Republican Congressmen". Last month Representative Christ-opher Collins was charged with participating in an insider trading scheme. He has denied wrongdoing but said he would not seek re-election. Later in August Representative Duncan Hunter and his wife were indicted for allegedly using campaign funds to pay for personal expenses. They too deny the charges.
The investigation into Hunter began under the presidency of Barack Obama, but the Collins inquiry was launched last year. Both men were early supporters of Trump when he launched his bid for the presidency. The justice department has not commented on the tweet.
But it has drawn fire from a number of critics, including Trump's fellow party members. Republican Senator Ben Sasse said the justice department should remain politically neutral in deciding whether or not to prosecute.
