Sen. Al Franken Alan (Al) Stuart FrankenGOP Senate candidate says Trump, Republicans will surprise in Minnesota Peterson faces fight of his career in deep-red Minnesota district Getting tight — the psychology of cancel culture MORE (D-Minn.) warned of a "constitutional crisis" if President Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsGOP set to release controversial Biden report Trump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status MORE and tried to appoint a successor during the August recess who would then fire special counsel Robert Mueller.

During an interview on MSNBC, Franken said he voted against Sessions and "wasn't happy with some of the answers he gave to my questions."

But, he said, the "idea of the president firing him so that he can appoint — do a recess appointment of an attorney general who can then fire Mueller, that's a constitutional crisis."

ADVERTISEMENT

"That would create a constitutional crisis," Franken said.

Senate Democrats are warning they will block Trump from trying to bypass the confirmation process by firing Sessions and appointing a successor during the August recess.

"Let me state for the record now, before this scheme gains wings, Democrats will never go along with the recess appointment if that situation arises," Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday, amid speculation about Sessions’s future in the administration.

He added that Democrats "have some tools in our toolbox" to block Trump from a recess appointment.

Trump has targeted Sessions in recent days. In an interview last week, he said he likely would not have chosen Sessions as attorney general if he had known Sessions was going to recuse himself from the Russia investigation.

During a press conference Tuesday, Trump refused to say if he would fire Sessions.

He said he was "disappointed" with his attorney general and said only that "time will tell" what fate awaits him.