Flake rips Trump’s attack on Sessions: He’s trying to use DOJ to ‘settle political scores’

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) condemned President Trump’s latest attack against Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Monday night, saying Trump was trying to use the Department of Justice to “settle political scores.”

Flake said in a tweet that Trump was wrong to criticize Sessions for not considering the political consequences of pursuing criminal charges against two GOP lawmakers.

“This is not the conduct of a President committed to defending and upholding the constitution, but rather a President looking to use the Department of Justice to settle political scores,” Flake wrote on Twitter.

This is not the conduct of a President committed to defending and upholding the constitution, but rather a President looking to use the Department of Justice to settle political scores. https://t.co/E74YmhD4dB

— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) September 3, 2018

Flake, a frequent critic of the president, was condemning Trump’s tweets earlier Monday in which he attacked Sessions for pursuing criminal charges against GOP Reps. Chris Collins (N.Y.) and Duncan Hunter (Calif.).

{mosads}Trump argued that Sessions should have considered the political consequences of pursuing cases against the lawmakers, who both supported Trump early in his presidential campaign.

“Two long running, Obama era, investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department,” Trump tweeted.

“Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff,” he added.

Collins was charged in August with securities fraud and lying to the FBI about attempts last year to give family members nonpublic stock information to help them avoid losing thousands of dollars in investments.

Hunter and his wife, Margaret Hunter, were also charged with misusing $250,000 in campaign funds and falsifying campaign records filed with the Federal Election Commission. The congressman is accused of using campaign funds to pay for family vacations, dental work, golf outings and more.

Collins suspended his reelection campaign last month but has said he is innocent. Hunter, meanwhile, has said that the charges against him are politically motivated and the result of a “witch hunt.”