Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) on Wednesday defended 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 amid President Trump's repeated criticisms of the attorney general.

During an interview on CNN, Shelby said Sessions is a "man with integrity and purpose."

"He deserves better than this. He is not the president's personal lawyer," Shelby said.

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"He is the attorney general of the United States."

Sessions took an oath to the Constitution, not to the president, Shelby said.

He recused himself from the Russia investigation when he thought he had a "possible conflict," Shelby continued, noting he thinks the attorney general did the right thing.

“I think Jeff Sessions deserves better than he’s getting,” Shelby said.

“And I do believe that he has a lot of friends; he has a lot of respect around the country. He’s a man of integrity, and that’s a job for integrity.”

Trump in recent days has been going after Sessions. Last week, he said during an interview that he likely would not have chosen Sessions as attorney general had he known Sessions was going to recuse himself from the Russia probe.

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.

On Wednesday, Trump again targeted Sessions, questioning why he didn't replace acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe.

"Why didn't A.G. Sessions replace Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, a Comey friend who was in charge of Clinton investigation but got...big dollars ($700,000) for his wife's political run from Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonJoe Biden looks to expand election battleground into Trump country Biden leads Trump by 12 points among Catholic voters: poll The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden goes on offense MORE and her representatives. Drain the Swamp!" Trump tweeted.