Call me crazy, but I don't think this has anything to do with Russia. Trump has a habit of doing things and then giving a reason for it that has nothing to do with the actual reason (such as when he cited the Rosenstein memo for firing Comey) Sessions recused himself months ago; why now?
I notice this decision comes days after Sessions' announcement on asset forfeiture. I remember thinking at the time, wow, this is the most unpopular thing the Trump administration has ever done. Some people are going to feel real, raw hate over this decision. I think Trump, with his good instincts, realized as much and has managed to fizzle the hate by skewering Sessions. Since the decision was bound to generate strong raw emotions, it was important that Trump deeply humiliate Sessions to mirror peoples' emotions. He's again getting Democrats and liberals to side with evil (in this case, Sessions) and putting himself on the 'left' (anti-Sessions) side. So even if his next AG continues the asset forfeiture program, they won't be associated with starting it. The raw feeling of anger will be gone. Trump is a very shrewd man who has been playing us all for fools, I fear.
Not quite as crazy as blaming Clinton's loss on gamergate.
But personally I doubt Trump even knows about the asset forfeiture change...possibly doesn't even know what civil forfeiture is. As for why now, I think it's because the Russia investigation has heated up and is touching his family. So now it really matters that Sessions is recused and can't "protect" him on this.
