President Donald Trump’s firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions has left a job vacancy that has some observers speculating that Texas congressman John Ratcliffe could be the next Attorney General of the United States.
Ratcliffe was elected to a third term in the House of Representatives on Nov. 6. A former federal prosecuting attorney, Ratcliffe represents the Texas 4th Congressional District, which includes all of Northeast Texas.
Trump named Sessions’ chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker, as the acting attorney general, but multiple news outlets are speculating that the permanent job – such as it is – would likely go to someone other than Whitaker.
Ratcliffe has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Sessions. Another possible choice could be John Michael Lutting, the senior attorney for The Boeing Company, who is also a former U.S. Court of Appeals judge and Justice Department official.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has been mentioned as a replacement, but Graham has told multiple outlets that he doesn’t want the job. Federal Judge Edith Jones, currently serving on the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals, has been mentioned as a candidate.
