The president directed his White House counsel to urge the attorney general not to recuse himself, according to a person familiar with the conversation

Donald Trump directed his White House counsel to urge the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, to not recuse himself from the justice department’s investigation into potential ties between Russia and the Trump campaign.

That’s according to a person familiar with the conversation who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. Two other people who also spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the details of the conversation between Sessions and Don McGahn, the White House counsel.

Sessions ultimately rejected the suggestion and announced on 2 March that he would step aside from the inquiry into Russian meddling in the presidential election. The move followed revelations that he had spoken in 2016 with the Russian ambassador.

The New York Times first reported Trump had directed McGahn to contact Sessions. The Times wrote that Trump angrily responded to Sessions’ recusal, and said that he had expected Sessions to protect him.