It looks like all those Saturday Night Live sketches portraying Jeff Sessions as an obsequious diminutive imp have gotten to the attorney general. 

In a stiffly-worded response to President Trump - who earlier today castigated the AG for ordering the Justice Department's inspector general, an Obama-era holdover, to investigate FISA abuses - Sessions defended his handling of the FISA investigation by saying he followed the "appropriate process" by ordering the IG to investigate and that, as long as he remains attorney general, he will "continue to discharge my duties with integrity and honor." 

AG SESSIONS STATEMENT: “We have initiated the appropriate process that will ensure complaints against this Department will be fully and fairly acted upon if necessary...." (1/2) https://t.co/MXsl6QF0r3 — Adam Levine (@cnnadam) February 28, 2018

AG SESSIONS STATEMENT CT'D: "As long as I am the Attorney General, I will continue to discharge my duties with integrity and honor, and this Department will continue to do its work in a fair and impartial manner according to the law and Constitution. “ ( 2/2) https://t.co/MXsl6QF0r3 — Adam Levine (@cnnadam) February 28, 2018

Of course, as one twitter user reminds us, Senate Republicans have said they will not confirm another AG nominee if Sessions is forced out. 

Senate Republicans have already stated they will not confirm another AG nominee if Sessions is fired or forced out. —  Stephen 74 (@Hydraman40Black) February 28, 2018

The statement elicited a wave of incredulous responses from twitter users, who were surprised by Sessions' strongly worded response. 

The statement is a remarkable public response from Sessions to another critical comment from President Trump directed at him and the Justice Department — Steve Brusk (@stevebruskCNN) February 28, 2018

His response begs the question: Will their spat end here?  Or will we soon hear from a (no doubt infuriated) Trump?