Politics

Judge Napolitano Says US ‘Almost At The Point Of A Saturday Night Massacre’ After Sessions Firing

Screenshot/Fox News

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Nick Givas Media And Politics Reporter
Font Size:

Fox News’s senior judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano said on “Fox & Friends” Tuesday that the U.S. has reached the point of a “Saturday Night Massacre” after the firing of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Napolitano was discussing the legitimacy of acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker and made reference to the “Saturday Night Massacre” of the Nixon administration in 1973. Nixon had asked his attorney general to fire the Watergate special prosecutor but he refused and resigned instead. Nixon then asked his deputy attorney general to fire the special counsel and he, too, resigned in protest.

“I realize there are arguments on both sides and I also realize that firing Jeff Sessions is very destabilizing to the DOJ,” Napolitano said. (RELATED: Former Federal Prosecutor Andrew McCarthy Calls Whitaker ‘An Excellent Pick’ For Acting Attorney General)  

WATCH

Napolitano also said replacing Whitaker will create even more chaos and said it’s dangerous to play “musical chairs” with the Justice Department.

“Getting rid of the person that succeeded [Sessions] will be even more destabilizing,” he continued. “We’re almost at the point of a Saturday night massacre in the Nixon administration. We didn’t know who was running the DOJ or the FBI, and you can’t have musical chairs.”

“But you have to have a lawfully appointed person in there because he’s sixth in line to the presidency,” Napolitano declared. “The power that he has with respect to criminal prosecutions is awesome. And he must have undergone Senate vetting before he can have it.” 

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.