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Trump Russia: House intelligence committee agrees inquiry Trump attorney general Jeff Sessions met Russian ambassador
(about 1 hour later)
A US congressional committee has agreed an investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 US elections. Attorney General Jeff Sessions met Russia's ambassador twice during Donald Trump's presidential campaign last year, the US government has confirmed.
Mr Sessions, a senator at the time, did not disclose the contacts at his January confirmation hearing.
But he stressed on Wednesday he had "never met any Russian officials to discuss issues of the campaign".
Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi accused Mr Sessions of "lying under oath" and demanded he resign.
Other Democrats called on him to step aside from an investigation by the FBI - which he oversees as attorney general - into the alleged Russian interference.
The news broke just after a congressional committee agreed an investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the election.
The House intelligence panel inquiry will scrutinise contacts between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and Moscow, members confirmed.The House intelligence panel inquiry will scrutinise contacts between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and Moscow, members confirmed.
The White House denies any improper behaviour during the election campaign. The White House denies any improper behaviour during the election campaign and did not comment immediately on the latest development.
The justice department has confirmed new Attorney General Jeff Sessions had conversations with Russia's ambassador during the presidential campaign. Russia has consistently rejected allegations of interference.
The FBI and the Senate intelligence committee are also looking into claims of Russian meddling in the US election. 'Absolutely nothing misleading'
Russia has previously denied the allegations. The justice department confirmed that Mr Sessions had met Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
There was an office visit during the autumn and a meeting along with other ambassadors in the summer.
He had meetings with more than 25 foreign ambassadors in the course of the year.
During his confirmation hearing, Mr Sessions was asked what he would do if there was evidence that anyone from the Trump campaign had been in touch with Russia.
Mr Sessions replied that he was "unaware of those activities".
In a statement on Wednesday night, Mr Sessions said: "I never met with any Russian officials to discuss issues of the campaign. I have no idea what this allegation is about. It is false."
Justice department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said there had been "absolutely nothing misleading about his answer".
"He was asked during the hearing about communications between Russia and the Trump campaign - not about meetings he took as a senator and a member of the Armed Services Committee," she said.
However, Congressman Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said that if the reports were accurate Mr Sessions must withdraw from the FBI investigation.
Mr Trump's National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, was fired last month after he misled the White House about his conversations with the Russian ambassador, allegedly regarding sanctions against Moscow.
House inquiry goes forward
Earlier on Wednesday, the House intelligence panel said in a statement that its Republican chairman, Devin Nunes, and Congressman Schiff had agreed to an investigation into Russia's alleged election interference.
It said it would seek answers to the following questions:
Until now, Republican senators had been reluctant to agree to Democratic Party demands for the inquiry.
How much did they know? Analysis by Tulip Mazumdar, BBC News, WashingtonHow much did they know? Analysis by Tulip Mazumdar, BBC News, Washington
The Russia question is refusing to go away for President Trump.The Russia question is refusing to go away for President Trump.
This House intelligence committee, which has been investigating Russia for many years, says it will expand its inquiries to include Russian activities during the election and "leave no stone unturned".This House intelligence committee, which has been investigating Russia for many years, says it will expand its inquiries to include Russian activities during the election and "leave no stone unturned".
The FBI and the Senate intelligence committee are already investigating Russian interference during the election.The FBI and the Senate intelligence committee are already investigating Russian interference during the election.
It has already been established by the CIA and others that Mr Putin's government did make a concerted effort to help elect Donald Trump and to discredit his opponent Hillary Clinton.It has already been established by the CIA and others that Mr Putin's government did make a concerted effort to help elect Donald Trump and to discredit his opponent Hillary Clinton.
But a key question remains - how much did the Trump campaign know about this?But a key question remains - how much did the Trump campaign know about this?
President Trump and his team have repeatedly denied any knowledge of his campaign having contact with Russian officials in the run up to the election.
The panel said in a statement that its Republican chairman, Devin Nunes, and Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff had agreed to the investigation.
It will seek answers to the following questions:
Until now, Republican senators had been reluctant to agree to Democratic Party demands for the inquiry.
President Trump has been dogged by questions about his advisers' ties to Moscow since the campaign. The White House has strongly denied the claims.President Trump has been dogged by questions about his advisers' ties to Moscow since the campaign. The White House has strongly denied the claims.
The Associated Press news agency reports that White House lawyers instructed Mr Trump's staff on Tuesday to preserve materials that could be connected to Russian interference in November's election.The Associated Press news agency reports that White House lawyers instructed Mr Trump's staff on Tuesday to preserve materials that could be connected to Russian interference in November's election.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said last week: "There is real concern that some in the administration may try to cover up its ties to Russia by deleting emails, texts and other records that could shine a light on those connections."
The US intelligence community concluded that alleged Russian hacking of Democratic organisations was carried out to help Mr Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.The US intelligence community concluded that alleged Russian hacking of Democratic organisations was carried out to help Mr Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Mr Trump's National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, was fired last month after he misled the White House about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the US, allegedly regarding sanctions against Moscow.
In a separate development, the justice department said on Wednesday that Mr Sessions had had two conversations with the Russian ambassador during the presidential campaign:
Sergei Kislyak has been Russia's ambassador to Washington since 2008.
The White House has so far made no comment on the issue.
Mr Schiff, the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said that if the reports were accurate Mr Sessions must withdraw from the FBI investigation into claims of Russian meddling in the US election.
As attorney general, Mr Sessions oversees that FBI.