Heidi M Przybyla

USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s firing of former FBI director James Comey set in motion a chain of events that’s proven politically devastating to his White House. The same could happen if he fires or forces out U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

“It’s stunning to me that he looks at what happened over the firing of Comey and his idea is to fire Sessions,” said Rob Jesmer, a longtime Republican strategist who is also a former executive director of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee.

“That firing’s been a disaster” that led to the appointment of special prosecutor Robert Mueller, said Jesmer. It also raised questions about potential obstruction of justice, since Trump later acknowledged he fired Comey because of the Russia investigation. “It’s made his life worse,” said Jesmer.

Signaling the potential political danger ahead, the diversity of conservatives rallying behind Sessions is significant. It ranges from the alt-right Breitbart News and conservative talk host Rush Limbaugh to family values and anti-immigration groups.

Sessions’ tenure as attorney general has been controversial among Democrats. Yet among Republicans, he’s seen as the president’s most loyal and early supporter. He gave up a safe seat representing the GOP-dominated state of Alabama in the Senate to support Trump’s agenda. And he’s been among the Cabinet members who’ve most reliably delivered on Trump’s agenda, including tougher enforcement of immigration laws. In addition to incensing GOP members of Congress, Sessions’ departure could have a chilling effect on Trump’s other Cabinet appointees and senior advisers who may “head for the hills” after seeing Trump turn on one of his most loyal backers, said Jesmer.

Already, some news reports indicate Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is troubled by Trump’s public berating of Sessions. “It would definitely have a chilling effect” on the Cabinet, said Doug Heye, a Republican strategist who’s worked at the Republican National Committee and in the George W. Bush administration.

On the Hill, the "reverberations would be that this is a White House that thinks it's above the law," said Heye.

“What I don’t understand is what he thinks the end game is,” said Jesmer. “Russia is not going away.”

Latest Trumpian tweet storm

In a series of tweets, Trump has taken aim at Sessions for failing to pursue more investigations of Hillary Clinton’s email server and called Sessions “beleaguered.” In an interview with the New York Times, he also berated Sessions for recusing himself from the FBI investigation in to Trump's ties to Russia.

Outside conservative groups and media figures who are emissaries to critical voting blocs, including religious and constitutional conservatives, are speaking out on behalf of Sessions. That raises the specter that Trump's actions could hurt his support among some of his most loyal supporters and voters.

Jim DeMint, chairman of the Conservative Partnership Institute and a former senator, said he hopes Trump “sees Jeff Sessions is a great leader that will defend Constitution and rule of law.”

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins issued a statement saying Sessions “understands the importance of all of our God-given rights, respects the law, and is making tremendous progress to restore our nation to greatness.”

Rush Limbaugh, the firebrand conservative talk host, called Trump’s continued attacks on Sessions “unseemly.”

The Federation for American Immigration Reform said Sessions "deserves your support, not criticism."

Even Breitbart, the news organization formerly headed by Trump's senior adviser Steve Bannon, fired a shot across the bow on Tuesday. It said Trump's attacks on Sessions are showing his own "weak" stance.

The attacks are "likely to fuel concerns from his base who see Sessions as the best hope to fulfill Trump's immigration policies," the article said.

“The question is what does a republican senator or member of the House do” if Trump follows through by firing or forcing Sessions to resign, said Heye.

Whether there will be any official reaction from congressional Republicans if Trump fires Sessions remains to be seen. It might take Trump going further, including pardoning himself or others or angling to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, for Congress to step in as many lawmakers worry the president is abusing his powers as president by targeting institutions and officials investigating him and his family.

Yet the consequences in Congress could nevertheless be manifold.

In addition to angering many lawmakers, making it harder to work with them, Sessions is a favorite of the House Freedom Caucus, the conservative group that has proven Trump’s most formidable negotiating challenge on repealing and replacing Obamacare. The faction of House conservatives will also pose a big challenge in reaching a deal to keep the government funded this fall.

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