On July 24, 2017, President Donald Trump called his own attorney general, Jeff Sessions, “beleaguered” on Twitter. The next day he wrote: “Attorney General Jeff Sessions has taken a VERY weak position on Hillary Clinton crimes (where are E-mails & DNC server) & Intel leakers!”
Republican senators answered in public. Ted Cruz called Sessions “a friend and a strong conservative.” Lindsey Graham said: “He’s a rock-solid conservative, but above else he believes in the rule of law.” Richard Shelby called him “a man of integrity, loyalty, and extraordinary character.”