After The Washington Post was leaked intercepted communications on Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the internet immediately began wondering if Donald Trump’s administration was the source of the release.

Who had both the means and motives to leak intercepted spy documents to The Washington Post?

Every GOP figure I've spoken to at #AspenSecurity assumes Trump leaked this to force Sessions out. "Certainly not a Mueller leak," one said. https://t.co/5WjsCLkQks

— Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg) July 21, 2017

Raw Story is now on Instagram. Get our latest stories and
exclusive videos. Click to follow!

Irresistible question: could Trump team have leaked the kislyak intercepts to push Sessions out after he failed to resign yesterday? https://t.co/azUnBSJL5j

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) July 21, 2017

Well, here's Trump's excuse to fire Sessions and get a stooge successor who'll fire Mueller https://t.co/629qGse43r

— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) July 21, 2017

Watch for Trump sycophants in the GOP calling for Sessions to resign. That would be a sign pointing to yes.

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) July 21, 2017

.@hughhewitt on Sessions: “If it’s true, I think the Attorney General will have to resign.” https://t.co/3z8xNTnijT

— Hardball (@hardball) July 21, 2017

I am on the verge of publishing something that says it makes sense it was TRUMP people who leaked info on Sessions, not the DEEP STATE

— Jay Caruso (@JayCaruso) July 21, 2017

To paraphrase Marion Barry, "Trump set me up!" Leak conveniently allows Sessions to quit/be fired, Trump can sub in unconflicted stooge https://t.co/iCClwlWAcx

— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) July 21, 2017

Targets Sessions, not Trump. And didn't you say he knew what he was doing when he did the interview? This is the perfect follow up

— Lolo (@LoloAnneG) July 21, 2017

"SOMEBODY TAKE THIS ORANGE F'IN KNIFE OUT OF MY BACK!"

Jeff Sessions

— Mark E. Lewis (@MLewisCreative) July 22, 2017

Is Trump playing chicken with Sessions so he can install an AG who hasn't recused?

— WindUpBird (@MickieMo) July 21, 2017

Whether or not these leaked intercepts result in AG Sessions resigning or being fired, the revelations were stunning beyond the fact many concluded the Trump administration was the likely source of the disclosures.

Here’s what others gleaned from Friday’s bombshell report in The Washington Post:

As news breaks of Jeff Sessions' campaign-related talks w/ Kislyak…Here is his sworn testimony claiming he had no communications w/ Russians pic.twitter.com/3A1qHY5OJp

— Rantt (@RanttNews) July 21, 2017

This WaPo report appears to confirm that Sessions and Kislyak met at the Mayflower, a meeting Sessions has staunchly denied having. https://t.co/QciJkmQBEg

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) July 21, 2017

Kislyak induces amnesia in so many Trump administration figures, but he seems to remember and report every word. https://t.co/pr1mJNgxuL

— Greg Miller (@gregpmiller) July 21, 2017

If Kislyak account is accurate, yet another indication Sessions committed perjury https://t.co/hQzJbqr3uE

— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) July 21, 2017

Trump folk that met with Russian Ambassador Kislyak during campaign:

Trump
Don Jr
Kushner
Manafort
Flynn
Sessions
Page
Gordon#TrumpRussia

— Scott Dworkin (@funder) July 19, 2017

So Kislyak discussed policy with Flynn & Sessions,got top secret intel from Trump, https://t.co/Hxy4C9Xzlw

— Caroline O. (@RVAwonk) July 21, 2017

Gezus! And there was a THIRD meeting between Sessions and Kislyak! pic.twitter.com/op8zJ8HMb3

— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) July 21, 2017

Jeff Sessions right now pic.twitter.com/3kmsd8G8zj

— Leti (@leti4u1) July 22, 2017

U.S. officials who regularly read Russian intercepts say Kislyak, unlike other diplomats, does not lie in his reports back to Moscow. pic.twitter.com/4O2IqrFWYm

— Eric Geller (@ericgeller) July 21, 2017

Didn't Sessions just promulgate a rule that says the government can steal all of his property now?

— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) July 21, 2017

Kislyak, the Russian ambassador with good access to Trump’s team, will be appointed a senator back home, per report. https://t.co/fXAQZxqg97

— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) July 18, 2017

Enjoy this piece?

… then let us make a small request. Like you, we here at Raw Story believe in the power of progressive journalism — and we’re investing in investigative reporting as other publications give it the ax. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and legal efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. We’ve launched a weekly podcast, “We’ve Got Issues,” focused on issues, not tweets. And unlike other news outlets, we’ve decided to make our original content free. But we need your support to do what we do.

Raw Story is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. We’re not part of a conglomerate, or a project of venture capital bros. From unflinching coverage of racism, to revealing efforts to erode our rights, Raw Story will continue to expose hypocrisy and harm. Unhinged from billionaires and corporate overlords, we fight to ensure no one is forgotten.

We need your support to keep producing quality journalism and deepen our investigative reporting. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us in the future. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click to donate by check.

Enjoy this piece?

… then let us make a small request. Like you, we here at Raw Story believe in the power of progressive journalism — and we’re investing in investigative reporting as other publications give it the ax. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. We’ve launched a weekly podcast, “We’ve Got Issues,” focused on issues, not tweets. Unlike other news sites, we’ve decided to make our original content free. But we need your support to do what we do.

Raw Story is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. We’re not part of a conglomerate, or a project of venture capital bros. From unflinching coverage of racism, to revealing efforts to erode our rights, Raw Story will continue to expose hypocrisy and harm. Unhinged from corporate overlords, we fight to ensure no one is forgotten.

We need your support to keep producing quality journalism and deepen our investigative reporting. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us in the future. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you.