President Trump Criticizes AG Sessions' Handling Of Russia Investigation

WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork) -- President Trump criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions, saying if he knew then what he knows now, he would not have hired him.

In an interview with the New York Times, the president said he would never have appointed Sessions if he knew Sessions was going to recuse himself from the Russia investigation.

"How do you take a job, and then recuse yourself," the president said to the Times. "If he would have recused himself before the job, I would have said, 'Thanks Jeff, but I can't, you know, I'm not gonna take you.' It's extremely unfair, and that's a mild word."

Trump also said that Special Counsel Robert Mueller would "cross a red line" if he expanded his investigation beyond Russia, but he would not say what he would do about it.

In addition, he accused the former FBI Director James Comey of trying to use leverage to keep his job.

Trump says two weeks before the inauguration, Comey told him about a dossier containing allegations against the incoming president that included supposed sexual escapades in Russia.

The president says Comey told him about it to show he had something to hold over him.

The interview comes on a day that Trump scolded GOP senators for failing to pass a health care bill.

The president had lunch with Republican lawmakers Wednesday, complete with strong words and a demand that they send him a new and improved health care bill.

Right now, the votes just aren't there as the Senate tries to pass a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare.

It fell apart, and the same thing happened to a plan to repeal now and replace later. And now, just proceeding on legislation requires a vote that Republicans might not have.

"For seven years you promised the American people that you would repeal Obamacare," Trump said Wednesday. "People are hurting, inaction is not an option, and frankly I don't think we should leave town unless we have a health insurance plan, unless we can give our people great health care."

The president scolded GOP senators at the White House for their failure to pass a long sought after health care bill.

"The people of this country need more than a repeal," Trump said. "They need a repeal and a replace."

After failing to get enough support on two versions of a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, then suggesting a repeal only, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell plans a vote next week.

"We could have a vote on either," the senior senator from Kentucky said.

As CBS2's Dick Brennan reported, McConnell first needs a vote to proceed to debate, and it's not clear where that stands.

Democrats say they are willing to work with Republicans, but not with their present plan.

"Repealing the health care law without any replacement is even worse," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said. "It would cause our health care system to implode, creating chaos. Millions more would lose insurance, and for millions more than that, coverage would be diminished. All of that even worse than under the Republican bill."

In the meantime, the president is making it clear to senators that he means business. On Wednesday, he pressured one Republican lawmaker who hasn't supported the legislation -- Senator Dean Heller (R-NV).

"This was the one we were worried about," Trump said. "You weren't there. But you're gonna be. You're gonna be. Look, he wants to remain a senator, doesn't he? And I think the people of your state which I know very well, I think they're gonna appreciate what you hopefully will do."

Heller could face a primary in his state from some outraged Republicans, but he's also been pressured to stand firm against the bill -- a sign of just how tough the debate has been on senators, who do of course want to keep their jobs.