US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been fired by President Donald Trump.
Mr Trump announced in a tweet that Mr Sessions would be temporarily replaced by his own chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker.
The president has repeatedly criticised Mr Sessions, a former Republican senator and early supporter of Mr Trump’s longshot candidacy.
“We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well!” Mr Trump wrote on Wednesday.
….We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date.
In a resignation letter, Mr Sessions made clear the decision was not his own.
“Dear Mr President, at your request I am submitting my resignation,” he wrote.
“Most importantly as my time as attorney general, we have restored and upheld the rule of law,” Mr Sessions added, while thanking the Republican president.
