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| Jeff Sessions testimony: attorney general grilled on Russia ties – live | Jeff Sessions testimony: attorney general grilled on Russia ties – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.34pm BST | |
| 21:34 | |
| Sessions: 'it's just like through the looking glass' | |
| Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a Republican. | |
| His question: Did Donald Trump or any of his associates collude with Russia in hacking those emails and making them public? No Democrats ask that. Maybe because there’s no evidence of any such collusion. | |
| Cotton muses: what do we think happened at the Mayflower? Do you like spy fiction? Jason Bourne or James Bond movies? | |
| Cotton’s point is that the plot line of a Sessions Kislyak collusions is ridiculous. | |
| Sessions: “Thank you for saying that, senator Cotton. It’s just like through the looking glass. What is this?” | |
| 9.31pm BST | |
| 21:31 | |
| Joe Manchin, Democrat of Virginia, has the ball. Would you go into a closed session? | |
| Sessions: “I’m not sure. The executive privilege is not waived by going in camera or in closed session.... it’s often very problematic to have persons not cooperating... which may or may not be a factor in going into closed session.” | |
| Manchin: Any other meetings with Russian officials? | |
| Sessions: “I have wracked my brain and I do not believe so.” | |
| Manchin: Any other meetings we should know about in the Trump campaign with Russians? | |
| Sessions: “I don’t recall any.” | |
| Manchin: What about these people: | |
| Paul Manafort? “I don’t have any information that he had done so.” | |
| Steve Bannon? “No information.” | |
| Michael Flynn: “I don’t recall it.” | |
| Reince Priebus: “I don’t recall.” | |
| Stephen Miller: “I don’t recall.” | |
| Corey Lewandowski. “I don’t recall haveing any of those individuals having any meeting with Russian officials.” | |
| Carter Page: “I don’t know... I’m not sure. I don’t recall.” | |
| 9.23pm BST | |
| 21:23 | |
| James Lankford, Republican of Oklahoma, is up. | |
| He joins the debate just finished, saying long precedent, including that established by Obama attorney general Eric Holder, showed some conversations between the attorney general and president are protected. | |
| 9.22pm BST | |
| 21:22 | |
| Sessions squirms in claim that conversations with Trump are protected | |
| Angus King, independent of Maine. He gets into a real Catch-22 conversation with Sessions about how Sessions can refuse to talk about certain subjects as if Trump had invoked executive privilege when Trump has not done so. Sessions says Trump might do so. | |
| King: What is the basis of your refusal to answer these questions [about his conversations with the president]? What is the legal basis? | |
| Sessions: “I am protecting the right of the president to assert it if he chooses and there may be other protections that apply.” | |
| King: I have not idea what you are talking about. | |
| Sessions: “If it comes to a point where the issue is clear and there is a dispute about it, at some point the president will either assert the privilege or not, or some other privilege... It would be premature for me to deny the president a full and intelligent choice about executive privilege...” | |
| King: Who asked for your opinion about Comey? | |
| Sessions: I believe I’m correct in saying the president has said so. | |
| King: Who asked you for your opinion. | |
| Sessions: “The president asked us for our opinion. But I believe he’s already revealed that. But if he hasn’t and I’m in error, I would have constricted his constitutional privilege.” | |
| King: Did Russia inquiry ever come up with Trump? | |
| Sessions: I cannot answer that. | |
| King: Do you believe Russia interfered in the election? | |
| Sessions: “It appears so... but I have to tell you, I know nothing but what I’ve read in the paper. | |
| King mentions the intelligence community memo laying out Russian tampering, which was more than a media report. You never asked for a briefing or attended a briefing? | |
| Sessions: You might have been very critical of me, as part of the campaign...[had I done so.] | |
| King: “I’m not talking about the campaign, I’m talking about what the Russians did.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.33pm BST | |
| 9.14pm BST | |
| 21:14 | |
| Notes from Twitter | |
| Pres. Trump aboard Air Force One watched Attorney Gen.Sessions testify during 90 minute flight to Milwaukee, aide tells @jeffzeleny | |
| Sessions following Coats and Rogers precedent in acting as if POTUS has blocked some testimony via executive privilege without saying so | |
| Sessions won't say if he discussed Russia inquiry w Trump. Yet he discussed firing Comey with Trump, by his telling; Trump says bc of Russia | |
| Sessions said the president asked to put in writing Comey opinion. Rosenstein today said he couldn't answer same q because of investigation. | |
| Nobody has asked Sessions whether he offered to resign. | |
| 9.10pm BST | |
| 21:10 | |
| Next up is Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri. | |
| Did you have a room at the Mayflower hotel, he asks? | |
| Nope. | |
| How many people were at the reception? | |
| Two to three dozen. | |
| Then you ran into people? | |
| “I didn’t have any formal meeting with him, I’m confident of that. But I may have had an encounter with him at the reception.” | |
| Extremely friendly line of questioning. | |
| 9.08pm BST | |
| 21:08 | |
| Sessions is back to talking about his concerns about Comey’s handling of the Clinton emails investigation. | |
| The FBI does not decide whether to prosecute, Sessions says, calling it “a pretty breathtaking usurpation.” | |
| The concern, Sessions says, was that “we had heading the FBI somewhat who boldly asserted the right to continue to make such decisions.” | |
| Sessions is subtly insistent that Comey was fired over the Clinton matter, totally ignoring the president’s explicitly stated explanation. | |
| 9.06pm BST | |
| 21:06 | |
| Democrat Martin Heinrich of New Mexico is next. | |
| He accuses Sessions of “impeding this investigation” by not answering questions about his conversations with the president. | |
| Sessions says he is protecting the “president’s constitutional right by not giving it away.” He says it’s longstanding department guidelines. | |
| Are those guidelines written down? Heinrich asks. | |
| Sessions insists that his conversations with the president are protected. | |
| Heinrich accuses Sessions of “obstructing” the congressional investigation, saying, “I think your silence speaks volumes.” | |
| Sessions says he’s talked to lawyers and his silence is “consistent with my duties.” | |
| Heinrich asks Sessions about answering “maybe” earlier when asked whether he’d depart if he caught a whiff of Russian involvement in the Trump campaign. | |
| Sessions: “If there was an improper illegal relationship and an effort to impede or influence this campaign I absolutely would have departed.” | |
| Good answer, Heinrich says. Why wasn’t that your answer before? | |
| “I thought it was.” | |
| 9.01pm BST | 9.01pm BST |
| 21:01 | 21:01 |
| Collins noted that Comey testified that he did not want to speak with Sessions about his one-on-one with Trump because he, Comey, knew Sessions would be recusing himself. | Collins noted that Comey testified that he did not want to speak with Sessions about his one-on-one with Trump because he, Comey, knew Sessions would be recusing himself. |
| Does Sessions think Comey needed to bring his concerns to someone else? | Does Sessions think Comey needed to bring his concerns to someone else? |
| Sessions: “I think the appropriate thing would have been for director Comey to talk with the acting deputy attorney general, who was his direct supervisor.” | Sessions: “I think the appropriate thing would have been for director Comey to talk with the acting deputy attorney general, who was his direct supervisor.” |
| 8.59pm BST | 8.59pm BST |
| 20:59 | 20:59 |
| Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, focuses on the order of actions in the Comey firing. | Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, focuses on the order of actions in the Comey firing. |
| Sessions says he spoke with Rosenstein about the need to fire Comey before either was confirmed. | Sessions says he spoke with Rosenstein about the need to fire Comey before either was confirmed. |
| Collins: “Why do you believe that your recommendation to fire... was not inconsistent with your March 2nd recusal”? | Collins: “Why do you believe that your recommendation to fire... was not inconsistent with your March 2nd recusal”? |
| Sessions: “The recusal involved one case in the DoJ... They conduct thousands of investigations. I’m the attorney general. It’s my responsibility to ensure that ... that department is run properly.”” | Sessions: “The recusal involved one case in the DoJ... They conduct thousands of investigations. I’m the attorney general. It’s my responsibility to ensure that ... that department is run properly.”” |
| Sessions says again that recusal from a single case – as examples he mentions DEA cases – should not foreclose on all leadership decisions. | Sessions says again that recusal from a single case – as examples he mentions DEA cases – should not foreclose on all leadership decisions. |
| 8.56pm BST | 8.56pm BST |
| 20:56 | 20:56 |
| Firey Sessions says of perceived conflicts in Russia inquiry: 'there are none' | Firey Sessions says of perceived conflicts in Russia inquiry: 'there are none' |
| Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, gives a speech against stonewalling. Then he goods in a good | Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, gives a speech against stonewalling. Then he goods in a good |
| Sessions: “I am not stonewalling. I am following the historic policies of the department of justice... | Sessions: “I am not stonewalling. I am following the historic policies of the department of justice... |
| “Mr Comey, perhaps he didn’t know, but I basically recused myself from the day I got into office... I made and honest and proper decision to recuse myself. | “Mr Comey, perhaps he didn’t know, but I basically recused myself from the day I got into office... I made and honest and proper decision to recuse myself. |
| Wyden: Comey said there were “problematic matters” relating to you with regard to the Russia investigation. What are they? | Wyden: Comey said there were “problematic matters” relating to you with regard to the Russia investigation. What are they? |
| Sessions: “Why don’t you tell me. There are none, senator Wyden. There are none. I can tell you this is a secret innuendo being leaked about me and I don’t appreciate it.” | Sessions: “Why don’t you tell me. There are none, senator Wyden. There are none. I can tell you this is a secret innuendo being leaked about me and I don’t appreciate it.” |
| It did not violate my recusal. That would be the answer to that. The letter that I signed represented my views. | It did not violate my recusal. That would be the answer to that. The letter that I signed represented my views. |
| Wyden: That answer in my view doesn’t pass the smell test... the day before you wrote your letter he tweeted that the collusion was a total hoax... | Wyden: That answer in my view doesn’t pass the smell test... the day before you wrote your letter he tweeted that the collusion was a total hoax... |
| Sessions: The memoranda that deputy Rosenstein wrote and my letter that accompanied it represented my views of the situation. | Sessions: The memoranda that deputy Rosenstein wrote and my letter that accompanied it represented my views of the situation. |
| 8.51pm BST | 8.51pm BST |
| 20:51 | 20:51 |
| Sessions won't say whether Trump ordered him from room | Sessions won't say whether Trump ordered him from room |
| Marco Rubio asks if Sessions remembers Trump asking him to leave the Oval Office. Sessions won’t say. But: | Marco Rubio asks if Sessions remembers Trump asking him to leave the Oval Office. Sessions won’t say. But: |
| “I do recall being one of the last ones to leave.” | “I do recall being one of the last ones to leave.” |
| Q: Did you decide to linger? | Q: Did you decide to linger? |
| A: I don’t know how that occurred. We had finished... a briefing... a number of people filtered out and I eventually left.. | A: I don’t know how that occurred. We had finished... a briefing... a number of people filtered out and I eventually left.. |
| Q: Were you concerned? | Q: Were you concerned? |
| A: I don’t know how I would characterize that Senator Rubio. I left, it didn’t seem to be a major problem. I knew that director Comey... could handle himself well. | A: I don’t know how I would characterize that Senator Rubio. I left, it didn’t seem to be a major problem. I knew that director Comey... could handle himself well. |
| Q: But Comey said he came to you with his concerns? | Q: But Comey said he came to you with his concerns? |
| A: I think I described it more completely... he raised that issue with me I believe the next day...and he expressed concern to me about that private conversation. And I agreed with him essentially that there are rules... but there is not a prohibition...and he gave me no detail about what it was that he was concerned about... he certainly knew that he could call his direct supervisor [the deputy attorney general. | A: I think I described it more completely... he raised that issue with me I believe the next day...and he expressed concern to me about that private conversation. And I agreed with him essentially that there are rules... but there is not a prohibition...and he gave me no detail about what it was that he was concerned about... he certainly knew that he could call his direct supervisor [the deputy attorney general. |
| Sessions he knew Comey would not succumb to pressure. | Sessions he knew Comey would not succumb to pressure. |
| Q: Are there White House tapes? | Q: Are there White House tapes? |
| A: Not that I know of. | A: Not that I know of. |
| Q: Would there be an obligation to preserve those records? | Q: Would there be an obligation to preserve those records? |
| A: I don’t know, probably so. | A: I don’t know, probably so. |
| Q: Any sort of interaction with Russian or other businessmen or others that in hindsight seems suspicious? | Q: Any sort of interaction with Russian or other businessmen or others that in hindsight seems suspicious? |
| A: I don’t believe in my conversations.... nah, well, I met a lot of people. A lot of foreign officials who wanted to argue their case... that’s a normal thing. | A: I don’t believe in my conversations.... nah, well, I met a lot of people. A lot of foreign officials who wanted to argue their case... that’s a normal thing. |
| 8.44pm BST | 8.44pm BST |
| 20:44 | 20:44 |
| Sessions returns to Comey’s handling of the Clinton emails matter: | Sessions returns to Comey’s handling of the Clinton emails matter: |
| That was a clear view of mine and of DAG Rosenstein... that we had problems there, and it was my best judgment that a fresh start at the FBI was the appropriate thing to do. .. when Mr Comey declined the Clinton prosecution, that was really a usurpation of the authority of the federal prosecutors in the department of justice. It was a stunning development... that was a thunderous thing. | That was a clear view of mine and of DAG Rosenstein... that we had problems there, and it was my best judgment that a fresh start at the FBI was the appropriate thing to do. .. when Mr Comey declined the Clinton prosecution, that was really a usurpation of the authority of the federal prosecutors in the department of justice. It was a stunning development... that was a thunderous thing. |
| He also commented at some length... on the Clinton prosecution, which you should not do.” | He also commented at some length... on the Clinton prosecution, which you should not do.” |
| Sessions is back to pretending the Comey firing was about the Clinton case, which the president himself has dismissed. | Sessions is back to pretending the Comey firing was about the Clinton case, which the president himself has dismissed. |
| 8.42pm BST | 8.42pm BST |
| 20:42 | 20:42 |
| Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California and the former chairwoman of the committee. | Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California and the former chairwoman of the committee. |
| When you wrote your letter to fire Comey, did you know that the president had already decided? | When you wrote your letter to fire Comey, did you know that the president had already decided? |
| Sessions was asked what was in his mind. He replies that he can’t know what was in Trump’s mind: | Sessions was asked what was in his mind. He replies that he can’t know what was in Trump’s mind: |
| I would say that I believe it’s been made public that the president asked us our opinion, it was given, and he asked us to put it in writing, and I don’t know how much more he said about it than that... I would let his words speak for themselves.” | I would say that I believe it’s been made public that the president asked us our opinion, it was given, and he asked us to put it in writing, and I don’t know how much more he said about it than that... I would let his words speak for themselves.” |
| Q: The decision had been made? | Q: The decision had been made? |
| A: We were asked our opinion, and when we expressed it, which was consistent with the memo we wrote, I felt comfortable... in providing that information in writing. | A: We were asked our opinion, and when we expressed it, which was consistent with the memo we wrote, I felt comfortable... in providing that information in writing. |
| Q: Do you concur with the president that he was going to fire Comey regardless? | Q: Do you concur with the president that he was going to fire Comey regardless? |
| Sessions says “I’m not sure what was in his mind explicitly.” | Sessions says “I’m not sure what was in his mind explicitly.” |
| Q: Did you ever discuss Comey’s handling of the Russian inquiry with the president? | Q: Did you ever discuss Comey’s handling of the Russian inquiry with the president? |
| A: “I’m not able to discuss that.” | A: “I’m not able to discuss that.” |
| Q: You discussed his termination. Why wouldn’t you discuss the reasons? | Q: You discussed his termination. Why wouldn’t you discuss the reasons? |
| A: The termination was made public by the president. | A: The termination was made public by the president. |
| They go around about what Sessions can and can’t talk about. | They go around about what Sessions can and can’t talk about. |
| 8.37pm BST | 8.37pm BST |
| 20:37 | 20:37 |
| Senator James Risch, Republican of Idaho, is up. A friendly interrogator. | Senator James Risch, Republican of Idaho, is up. A friendly interrogator. |
| He asks Sessions whether he can say that he never saw or heard a conversation in Trump world about colluding with the Russians. | He asks Sessions whether he can say that he never saw or heard a conversation in Trump world about colluding with the Russians. |
| “I can say that absolutely and I have no hesitation to do so.” | “I can say that absolutely and I have no hesitation to do so.” |
| Q: Did you hear a whisper of Russian involvement.A: “I’d have been shocked, and I’d have thought it was improper.” | Q: Did you hear a whisper of Russian involvement.A: “I’d have been shocked, and I’d have thought it was improper.” |
| Q: And headed for the exit I suppose? | Q: And headed for the exit I suppose? |
| A: “Well, maybe.” | A: “Well, maybe.” |
| Maybe? | Maybe? |
| 8.35pm BST | 8.35pm BST |
| 20:35 | 20:35 |
| Transcript: Sessions opening statement | Transcript: Sessions opening statement |
| ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS PREPARED REMARKS TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE | ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS PREPARED REMARKS TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE |
| WASHINGTON, D.C. | WASHINGTON, D.C. |
| Thank you Chairman Burr and Ranking Member Warner for allowing me to publicly appear before the committee today. | Thank you Chairman Burr and Ranking Member Warner for allowing me to publicly appear before the committee today. |
| I appreciate the Committee’s critically important efforts to investigate Russian interference with our democratic process. Such interference can never be tolerated and I encourage every effort to get to the bottom of any such allegations. | I appreciate the Committee’s critically important efforts to investigate Russian interference with our democratic process. Such interference can never be tolerated and I encourage every effort to get to the bottom of any such allegations. |
| As you know, the Deputy Attorney General has appointed a special counsel to investigate matters related to Russian interference in the 2016 election. I am here today to address several issues that have been specifically raised before this committee, and I appreciate the opportunity to respond to questions as fully as I am able to do so. But as I advised you, Mr. Chairman, and consistent with long-standing Department of Justice practice, I cannot and will not violate my duty to protect confidential communications with the President. | As you know, the Deputy Attorney General has appointed a special counsel to investigate matters related to Russian interference in the 2016 election. I am here today to address several issues that have been specifically raised before this committee, and I appreciate the opportunity to respond to questions as fully as I am able to do so. But as I advised you, Mr. Chairman, and consistent with long-standing Department of Justice practice, I cannot and will not violate my duty to protect confidential communications with the President. |
| Now, let me address some issues directly: I did not have any private meetings nor do I recall any conversations with any Russian officials at the Mayflower Hotel. I did not attend any meetings at that event. Prior to the speech, I attended a reception with my staff that included at least two dozen people and President Trump. Though I do recall several conversations I had during that pre-speech reception, I do not have any recollection of meeting or talking to the Russian Ambassador or any other Russian officials. If any brief interaction occurred in passing with the Russian Ambassador during that reception, I do not remember it. After the speech, I was interviewed by the news media, which had gathered as I remember in a different room, and then I left the hotel. | Now, let me address some issues directly: I did not have any private meetings nor do I recall any conversations with any Russian officials at the Mayflower Hotel. I did not attend any meetings at that event. Prior to the speech, I attended a reception with my staff that included at least two dozen people and President Trump. Though I do recall several conversations I had during that pre-speech reception, I do not have any recollection of meeting or talking to the Russian Ambassador or any other Russian officials. If any brief interaction occurred in passing with the Russian Ambassador during that reception, I do not remember it. After the speech, I was interviewed by the news media, which had gathered as I remember in a different room, and then I left the hotel. |
| But whether I ever attended a reception where the Russian Ambassador was also present is entirely beside the point of this investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 campaigns. Let me state this clearly: I have never met with or had any conversations with any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election. Further, I have no knowledge of any such conversations by anyone connected to the Trump campaign. I was your colleague in this body for 20 years, and the suggestion that I participated in any collusion or that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government to hurt this country, which I have served with honor for over 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie. | But whether I ever attended a reception where the Russian Ambassador was also present is entirely beside the point of this investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 campaigns. Let me state this clearly: I have never met with or had any conversations with any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election. Further, I have no knowledge of any such conversations by anyone connected to the Trump campaign. I was your colleague in this body for 20 years, and the suggestion that I participated in any collusion or that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government to hurt this country, which I have served with honor for over 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie. |
| Relatedly, there is the assertion that I did not answer Senator Franken’s question honestly at my confirmation hearing. That is false. This is how it happened. He asked me a rambling question that included dramatic, new allegations that the United States intelligence community had advised President-elect Trump that “there was a continuing exchange of information during the campaign between Trump’s surrogates and intermediaries for the Russian government.” I was taken aback by these explosive allegations, which he said were being reported in breaking news that day. I wanted to refute immediately any suggestion that I was a part of such an activity. I replied, “Senator Franken, I’m not aware of any of those activities. I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I didn’t have – did not have communications with the Russians, and I’m unable to comment on it.” | Relatedly, there is the assertion that I did not answer Senator Franken’s question honestly at my confirmation hearing. That is false. This is how it happened. He asked me a rambling question that included dramatic, new allegations that the United States intelligence community had advised President-elect Trump that “there was a continuing exchange of information during the campaign between Trump’s surrogates and intermediaries for the Russian government.” I was taken aback by these explosive allegations, which he said were being reported in breaking news that day. I wanted to refute immediately any suggestion that I was a part of such an activity. I replied, “Senator Franken, I’m not aware of any of those activities. I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I didn’t have – did not have communications with the Russians, and I’m unable to comment on it.” |
| That was the context in which I was asked the question, and in that context, my answer was a fair and correct response to the charge as I understood it. It simply did not occur to me to go further than the context of the question and list any conversations I may have had with Russians in routine situations, as I had with numerous other foreign officials. | That was the context in which I was asked the question, and in that context, my answer was a fair and correct response to the charge as I understood it. It simply did not occur to me to go further than the context of the question and list any conversations I may have had with Russians in routine situations, as I had with numerous other foreign officials. |
| Please hear me now. It was only in March of this year that a reporter asked my spokesperson whether I had ever met with any Russian officials. This was the first time that question had been posed. On the same day, we provided that reporter with the information related to the meeting I and my staff had held in my Senate office with Ambassador Kislyak, as well as the brief encounter in July after a speech that I had given during the convention in Cleveland, Ohio. I also provided the reporter a list of all 25 foreign ambassador meetings I had held during 2016. In addition, I provided supplemental testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee to explain this. I readily acknowledged these two meetings. Certainly nothing improper occurred. | Please hear me now. It was only in March of this year that a reporter asked my spokesperson whether I had ever met with any Russian officials. This was the first time that question had been posed. On the same day, we provided that reporter with the information related to the meeting I and my staff had held in my Senate office with Ambassador Kislyak, as well as the brief encounter in July after a speech that I had given during the convention in Cleveland, Ohio. I also provided the reporter a list of all 25 foreign ambassador meetings I had held during 2016. In addition, I provided supplemental testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee to explain this. I readily acknowledged these two meetings. Certainly nothing improper occurred. |
| Let me also explain clearly the circumstances of my recusal from the investigation into the Russian interference with the 2016 election. I was sworn in as Attorney General on Thursday, February 9th. The very next day, I met with career Department officials, including a senior ethics official, to discuss some things publicly reported in the press and that might have some bearing on the issue of recusal. From that point, February 10th, until I announced my formal recusal on March 2nd, I was never briefed on any investigative details and did not access information about the investigation; I received only the limited information that the Department’s career officials determined was necessary to inform my recusal decision. As such, I have no knowledge about this investigation beyond what has been publicly reported, and I have taken no action with regard to any such investigation. On the date of my formal recusal, my Chief of Staff sent an email to the heads of the relevant departments, including by name to Director Comey of the FBI, to instruct them to inform their staffs of this recusal and to advise them not to brief me or involve me in any such matters. And in fact, they have not. Importantly, I recused myself not because of any asserted wrongdoing on my part during the campaign, but because a Department of Justice regulation, 28 CFR 45.2, required it. That regulation states, in effect, that Department employees should not participate in investigations of a campaign if they have served as a campaign advisor. | Let me also explain clearly the circumstances of my recusal from the investigation into the Russian interference with the 2016 election. I was sworn in as Attorney General on Thursday, February 9th. The very next day, I met with career Department officials, including a senior ethics official, to discuss some things publicly reported in the press and that might have some bearing on the issue of recusal. From that point, February 10th, until I announced my formal recusal on March 2nd, I was never briefed on any investigative details and did not access information about the investigation; I received only the limited information that the Department’s career officials determined was necessary to inform my recusal decision. As such, I have no knowledge about this investigation beyond what has been publicly reported, and I have taken no action with regard to any such investigation. On the date of my formal recusal, my Chief of Staff sent an email to the heads of the relevant departments, including by name to Director Comey of the FBI, to instruct them to inform their staffs of this recusal and to advise them not to brief me or involve me in any such matters. And in fact, they have not. Importantly, I recused myself not because of any asserted wrongdoing on my part during the campaign, but because a Department of Justice regulation, 28 CFR 45.2, required it. That regulation states, in effect, that Department employees should not participate in investigations of a campaign if they have served as a campaign advisor. |
| The scope of my recusal, however, does not and cannot interfere with my ability to oversee the Department of Justice, including the FBI, which has an $8 billion budget and 35,000 employees. I presented to the President my concerns, and those of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, about the ongoing leadership issues at the FBI as stated in my letter recommending the removal of Mr. Comey along with the Deputy Attorney General’s memorandum, which have been released publicly by the White House. It is a clear statement of my views. It is absurd, frankly, to suggest that a recusal from a single specific investigation would render an Attorney General unable to manage the leadership of the various Department of Justice law enforcement components that conduct thousands of investigations. | The scope of my recusal, however, does not and cannot interfere with my ability to oversee the Department of Justice, including the FBI, which has an $8 billion budget and 35,000 employees. I presented to the President my concerns, and those of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, about the ongoing leadership issues at the FBI as stated in my letter recommending the removal of Mr. Comey along with the Deputy Attorney General’s memorandum, which have been released publicly by the White House. It is a clear statement of my views. It is absurd, frankly, to suggest that a recusal from a single specific investigation would render an Attorney General unable to manage the leadership of the various Department of Justice law enforcement components that conduct thousands of investigations. |
| Finally, during his testimony, Mr. Comey discussed a conversation he and I had about a meeting Mr. Comey had with the President. I am happy to share with the committee my recollection of the conversation I had with Mr. Comey. Following a routine morning threat briefing, Mr. Comey spoke to me and my Chief of Staff. While he did not provide me with any of the substance of his conversation with the President, Mr. Comey expressed concern about the proper communications protocol with the White House and with the President. I responded to his comment by agreeing that the FBI and Department of Justice needed to be careful to follow Department policies regarding appropriate contacts with the White House. Mr. Comey had served in the Department of Justice for the better part of two decades, and I was confident that Mr. Comey understood and would abide by the Department’s well-established rules governing any communications with the White House about ongoing investigations. My comments encouraged him to do just that and indeed, as I understand, he did. Our Department of Justice rules on proper communication between the Department and the White House have been in place for years. Mr. Comey well knew them, I thought, and assumed correctly that he complied with them. | Finally, during his testimony, Mr. Comey discussed a conversation he and I had about a meeting Mr. Comey had with the President. I am happy to share with the committee my recollection of the conversation I had with Mr. Comey. Following a routine morning threat briefing, Mr. Comey spoke to me and my Chief of Staff. While he did not provide me with any of the substance of his conversation with the President, Mr. Comey expressed concern about the proper communications protocol with the White House and with the President. I responded to his comment by agreeing that the FBI and Department of Justice needed to be careful to follow Department policies regarding appropriate contacts with the White House. Mr. Comey had served in the Department of Justice for the better part of two decades, and I was confident that Mr. Comey understood and would abide by the Department’s well-established rules governing any communications with the White House about ongoing investigations. My comments encouraged him to do just that and indeed, as I understand, he did. Our Department of Justice rules on proper communication between the Department and the White House have been in place for years. Mr. Comey well knew them, I thought, and assumed correctly that he complied with them. |
| I will finish with this. I recused myself from any investigation into the campaigns for President, but I did not recuse myself from defending my honor against scurrilous and false allegations. At all times throughout the course of the campaign, the confirmation process, and since becoming Attorney General, I have dedicated myself to the highest standards. | I will finish with this. I recused myself from any investigation into the campaigns for President, but I did not recuse myself from defending my honor against scurrilous and false allegations. At all times throughout the course of the campaign, the confirmation process, and since becoming Attorney General, I have dedicated myself to the highest standards. |
| The people of this country expect an honest and transparent government and that is what we are giving them. This President wants to focus on the people of this country to ensure they are treated fairly and kept safe. The Trump agenda is to improve the lives of the American people. I know some have other agendas, but that is his agenda and it is one I share. | The people of this country expect an honest and transparent government and that is what we are giving them. This President wants to focus on the people of this country to ensure they are treated fairly and kept safe. The Trump agenda is to improve the lives of the American people. I know some have other agendas, but that is his agenda and it is one I share. |
| Importantly, as Attorney General I have a responsibility to enforce the laws of this Nation, to protect this country from its enemies, and to ensure the fair administration of justice. I intend to work every day with our fine team and the superb professionals in the Department of Justice to advance the important work we have to do. These false attacks, the innuendo, and the leaks, you can be sure, will not intimidate me. In fact, these events have only strengthened my resolve to fulfill my duty to reduce crime, and to support our federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who work our streets every day. Just last week, it was reported that overdose deaths in this country are rising faster than ever recorded. The murder rate is up over 10 percent—the largest increase since 1968. Together, we are telling the gangs, the cartels, the fraudsters, and the terrorists—we are coming after you. Every one of our citizens, no matter who they are or where they live, has the right to be safe in their homes and communities. And I will not be deterred, and I will not allow this great Department to be deterred from its vital mission. | Importantly, as Attorney General I have a responsibility to enforce the laws of this Nation, to protect this country from its enemies, and to ensure the fair administration of justice. I intend to work every day with our fine team and the superb professionals in the Department of Justice to advance the important work we have to do. These false attacks, the innuendo, and the leaks, you can be sure, will not intimidate me. In fact, these events have only strengthened my resolve to fulfill my duty to reduce crime, and to support our federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who work our streets every day. Just last week, it was reported that overdose deaths in this country are rising faster than ever recorded. The murder rate is up over 10 percent—the largest increase since 1968. Together, we are telling the gangs, the cartels, the fraudsters, and the terrorists—we are coming after you. Every one of our citizens, no matter who they are or where they live, has the right to be safe in their homes and communities. And I will not be deterred, and I will not allow this great Department to be deterred from its vital mission. |
| Thank you. | Thank you. |
| # # # | # # # |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.40pm BST | at 8.40pm BST |
| 8.35pm BST | 8.35pm BST |
| 20:35 | 20:35 |
| Sessions' version of Oval Office meeting omits Trump order to clear room | Sessions' version of Oval Office meeting omits Trump order to clear room |
| Warner is asking about Comey’s idea that Sessions lingered in the Oval Office after the president directed him to leave, out of a sense of impropriety. Comey said Trump went on to direct him to shelve the Michael Flynn inquiry. | Warner is asking about Comey’s idea that Sessions lingered in the Oval Office after the president directed him to leave, out of a sense of impropriety. Comey said Trump went on to direct him to shelve the Michael Flynn inquiry. |
| “We were there. I was standing there, and without revealing any conversation that took place... I did depart, I believe everyone else did depart, and Comey was sitting in front of the president’s desk and they were talking...” Sessions replies. | “We were there. I was standing there, and without revealing any conversation that took place... I did depart, I believe everyone else did depart, and Comey was sitting in front of the president’s desk and they were talking...” Sessions replies. |
| “He did not tell me any details about anything that was said that was improper...” | “He did not tell me any details about anything that was said that was improper...” |
| This clashes directly with Comey’s account of Trump ordering the others out and them lingering uncomfortably. | This clashes directly with Comey’s account of Trump ordering the others out and them lingering uncomfortably. |