The turtle, Mitch, has kept the Senate in session all of Trumps term to prevent any recess appointments, as far as I know. Unprecedented, but not unexpected from such a swamp creature

Edit: As for your second point, that was part of the purpose of the whole Russia nonsense, possibly. To prevent Trump from firing DOJ officials like the Nixon Saturday Night Massacre. If he did, the whole "obstruction of justice" angle would have had more ammo.

The turtle, Mitch, has kept the Senate in session all of Trumps term to prevent any recess appointments, as far as I know. Unprecedented, but not unexpected from such a swamp creature