The announcement was made by US President Donald Trump on Twitter.

The President said: "We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date."

Trump said Sessions will be temporarily replaced by his chief of staff Matthew Whitaker.

He said Whitaker will serve as the new Acting Attorney General of the United States.

"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," Trump tweeted.

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