Republicans divided on Russia probe, calls for special prosecutor over AG Sessions

Republicans are increasingly divided over whether members of Donald Trump's presidential campaign made illegal contact with Russia and if a special prosecutor should be appointed over Attorney General Jeff Sessions to investigate allegations. Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told "Fox News Sunday" that he has confidence in Sessions, a Trump campaign supporter and former Alabama senator, and his judgment.

White House dodging questions of Sessions’ role in FBI probe

The White House is dodging questions about whether Attorney General Jeff Sessions should consider withdrawing from the FBI's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. A prominent Republican, California Rep. Darrell Issa, has called for a special prosecutor and said it would be improper for Sessions to lead the investigation as the nation's chief law enforcement official.

Jeff Sessions flexes Trump influence in fight with DeVos on transgender student rights

Attorney General Jeff Sessions flexed his influence with President Donald Trump after the president sided with him in reversing the Obama administration's draft guidelines on transgender students' bathroom use in schools. Sessions had sparred with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, whose permission was needed so the administration could go through with the directive.

The Latest: Senators ask attorney general, FBI for briefing

The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee are asking the attorney general and FBI director for a briefing on the resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa and Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California sent a letter late Wednesday to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director James Comey requesting a briefing the week of Feb. 27. Congress is out of session next week for the Presidents' Day holiday.

Donald Trump’s white nationalist “genius bar”:…

Donald Trump's administration is built around a brain trust of white nationalists. To deny that fact is to ignore a crucial element of this national crisis: America's "greatest generation" defeated Nazism during World War II, and 70 or so years later one of the country's two leading political parties has injected a more polite version of that poison into its veins and rode to power in Washington on a wave of bigotry and racism.

Steven Mnuchin Confirmed as Treasury Secretary

"The Lego Batman Movie" executive producer was confirmed in the United States Senate 53-47, with Democrat Joe Manchin crossing party lines to vote with Republicans In a mostly party line vote, former Goldman Sachs executive Steven Mnuchin has been confirmed in the United States Senate as the Trump administration's new Treasury Secretary. Mnuchin was confirmed by a vote of 53-47, with nearly every Democrat voting against him.

Marshall would step away from Bentley probes

Steve Marshall sworn in as Alabama attorney general Former Marshall County DA says he'll step away from any direct investigations of Gov. Robert Bentley Check out this story on montgomeryadvertiser.com: http://on.mgmadv.com/2kDLiOg Steve Marshall called it "the cloud" -- floating questions about whether the attorney general's office was investigating Gov. Robert Bentley while Luther Strange interviewed for and won appointment from Bentley to the U.S. Senate. That cloud is part of a storm front that has settled over Alabama's political leadership for the past three years.

Can President Trump learn from losing?

The appellate court repudiation of President Donald Trump's travel ban marked the first high-level loss for a new administration that, for all the chaos it has inflicted on Washington and itself, had thus far largely succeeded in accomplishing its immediate goals. Before the judicial panel refused Thursday to reinstate Trump's order - which aimed to prevent entry into the U.S. by refugees and by all travelers from seven mostly Muslim countries - drama in Washington played out as if the nation had only two pillars of power.

Colleagues say judge in Dakota pipeline case is even-handed

The federal judge who will decide whether oil flows through the disputed Dakota Access pipeline has shown sympathy for the historical plight of American Indians, but has also made clear that he doesn't think that should play a role in judicial decisions. U.S. District Judge James "Jeb" Boasberg is overseeing a lawsuit filed by the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux that could be their last hope of stopping the $3.8 billion pipeline to carry North Dakota oil to Illinois.

Trump Resurrects ‘Pocahontas’ Dig Against Elizabeth Warren

"Pocahontas is now the face of your party," he tells Democratic senators in a bid to build support for his Supreme Court nominee. In the same bipartisan meeting where Donald Trump stunned participants by again complaining about nonexistent voter fraud , the president also resurrected an offensive dig at Democrat Elizabeth Warren , calling her " Pocahontas ."

Trump’s HHS Pick Price Confirmed Narrowly for Cabinet

Rep. Tom Price, President Donald Trump's choice to be health secretary, is the latest of a handful of Cabinet nominees to eke out a confirmation victory in a bitterly divided Senate. Following the pattern of strictly party-line votes on two previous nominees - Attorney General-designate Sen. Jeff Sessions and Betsy DeVos for Education secretary - the Georgia congressman was approved early Friday on a 52-47 vote.

Hot Blast: Do you agree with Gov. Bentley’s decision to appoint Luther Strange to the U.S. Senate?

Thursday Gov. Robert Bentley appointed Luther Strange, the Alabama attorney general, as Jeff Sessions' replacement in the U.S. Senate. Sessions, a Republican senator from Mobile, was sworn in as U.S. attorney general on Thursday. Do you agree with Bentley's selection of Strange?

Alabama AG sworn in to replace Jeff Sessions

Gov. Robert Bentley named Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange to fill the U.S. Senate ... . Newly appointed Alabama Sen. Luther Strange looks at Gov. Robert Bentley before Bently signed the document officially appointing Strange to the U.S. Senate during a press conference, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, in Montgomery, Ala... .

ICYMI: Two Additions Confirmed to Trump’s Cabinet of Horrors

This week Betsy DeVos was confirmed as our new Education Secretary and Jeff Sessions as the next Attorney General. There is no sugar coating this: both are disastrous for women, sexual assault survivors, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, and the LGBT community.

Trevor Noah Asks Elizabeth Warren: ‘Do You Realize What a Solid’ Mitch McConnell Did You?

Warren surprised the crowd at The Daily Show Wednesday night by appearing to discuss the unfolding circumstances surrounding the appointment of Jeff Sessions as our nation's top prosecutor, a move that she aimed to fight against by reading a 1986 letter written by Coretta Scott King . Host Trevor Noah had a slightly different take on the situation, however, asking Warren, "Do you think you realized in that moment and do you think Mitch McConnell realizes what a solid he's done you?" Warren laughed off the suggestion that the situation is actually working in her favor, but Noah continued.