At the request of President Donald Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has submitted his resignation.

CGTN’s Sean Callebs reports.

President Donald Trump announced in a tweet that Sessions’ chief of staff Matt Whitaker would become the new acting attorney general, until a new attorney general can be confirmed by the Senate.

We are pleased to announce that Matthew G. Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become our new Acting Attorney General of the United States. He will serve our Country well….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2018

Whitaker has been a vocal opponent of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. As acting Attorney General, he now has authority to fire Special Counsel Mueller, or reduce the scope and funding of the probe moving forward.

Soon after Russia investigation was announced in early 2017, Sessions recused himself from his oversight role at DOJ because of his significant role supporting Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

CGTN’s Nathan King reported when the news broke. .

As the Russia investigation began gathering momentum, Trump began publicly berating Sessions in the media and on Twitter for allowing the probe to move forward, while not being more aggressive against Trump’s former presidential opponent.

So many people are asking why isn't the A.G. or Special Council looking at the many Hillary Clinton or Comey crimes. 33,000 e-mails deleted?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 22, 2017

Jeff Sessions said he wouldn’t allow politics to influence him only because he doesn’t understand what is happening underneath his command position. Highly conflicted Bob Mueller and his gang of 17 Angry Dems are having a field day as real corruption goes untouched. No Collusion!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2018

Mueller has since begun examining whether Trump’s attacks on Sessions was part of a broader effort to obstruct justice.

Jeff Sessions resignation letter

This story includes some reporting from the Associated Press