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| Sessions testimony: attorney general grilled on Russia ties – as it happened | Sessions testimony: attorney general grilled on Russia ties – as it happened |
| (5 months later) | |
| Attorney general Jeff Sessions’ testimony has concluded. Here’s what we learned: | Attorney general Jeff Sessions’ testimony has concluded. Here’s what we learned: |
| Sessions vehemently denied any collusion with Russian entities in disrupting the American election. He said the accusations were scurrilous “appalling” and amounted to a “detestable lie.” | Sessions vehemently denied any collusion with Russian entities in disrupting the American election. He said the accusations were scurrilous “appalling” and amounted to a “detestable lie.” |
| Sessions repeatedly said he could not reveal whether he spoke with Donald Trump about the Russia inquiry. The two did discuss the firing of Comey, however, which Trump has said came about because of Trump’s displeasure at the handling of the Russia inquiry. | Sessions repeatedly said he could not reveal whether he spoke with Donald Trump about the Russia inquiry. The two did discuss the firing of Comey, however, which Trump has said came about because of Trump’s displeasure at the handling of the Russia inquiry. |
| Sessions said he was right to sign a letter recommending the firing of James Comey despite his recusal from the Russia inquiry. Sessions characterized the Russian inquiry as one of thousands of investigations that an attorney general might step away from while still maintaining a leadership role in major business. | Sessions said he was right to sign a letter recommending the firing of James Comey despite his recusal from the Russia inquiry. Sessions characterized the Russian inquiry as one of thousands of investigations that an attorney general might step away from while still maintaining a leadership role in major business. |
| Sessions testified that he believed even before he was confirmed that Comey needed to be fired. Sessions spoke at the time with current deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein about it. | Sessions testified that he believed even before he was confirmed that Comey needed to be fired. Sessions spoke at the time with current deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein about it. |
| Sessions stopped short of backing Comey in Comey’s description of a strange Oval Office scene in which Comey said Trump asked Sessions and others to leave the room before discussing Michael Flynn with Comey. Sessions said people “filtered out” but he would not say whether Trump ordered him to leave. | Sessions stopped short of backing Comey in Comey’s description of a strange Oval Office scene in which Comey said Trump asked Sessions and others to leave the room before discussing Michael Flynn with Comey. Sessions said people “filtered out” but he would not say whether Trump ordered him to leave. |
| While Sessions said it was entirely appropriate for a president to have a direct conversation with an FBI director, he suggested it was inappropriate for Comey to update Trump on the Russia inquiry without running it by his superiors. | While Sessions said it was entirely appropriate for a president to have a direct conversation with an FBI director, he suggested it was inappropriate for Comey to update Trump on the Russia inquiry without running it by his superiors. |
| The hearing is wrapping up. Burr offers Warner a closing comment. Warner thanks Sessions for taking the Russia tampering seriously. “There doesn’t seem to be a recognition of the seriousness of this threat. It is of enormous concern.” | The hearing is wrapping up. Burr offers Warner a closing comment. Warner thanks Sessions for taking the Russia tampering seriously. “There doesn’t seem to be a recognition of the seriousness of this threat. It is of enormous concern.” |
| Burr thanks Sessions for answering questions about his Mayflower meeting with Kislyak, his recusal from the Russian inquiry and his conversations with James Comey. | Burr thanks Sessions for answering questions about his Mayflower meeting with Kislyak, his recusal from the Russian inquiry and his conversations with James Comey. |
| Burr asks Sessions to work with the White House to figure out if there are any disclosures he can make that he didn’t today. | Burr asks Sessions to work with the White House to figure out if there are any disclosures he can make that he didn’t today. |
| Gavel. | Gavel. |
| Senator John McCain asks whether Sessions raised concerns about the Russian invasion of Ukraine at his meetings with the Russians. | Senator John McCain asks whether Sessions raised concerns about the Russian invasion of Ukraine at his meetings with the Russians. |
| Sessions says he did. “It was a bit testy,” he allows. | Sessions says he did. “It was a bit testy,” he allows. |
| McCain: Did you raise concerns about the Syrian president? | McCain: Did you raise concerns about the Syrian president? |
| Sessions: I don’t recall. | Sessions: I don’t recall. |
| McCain: About Russian interference with the election? | McCain: About Russian interference with the election? |
| Sessions: I don’t recall. | Sessions: I don’t recall. |
| McCain: Security issues? I don’t recall you as being particularly vocal on such issues. | McCain: Security issues? I don’t recall you as being particularly vocal on such issues. |
| Sessions is confused. | Sessions is confused. |
| McCain: In other words, Russia-related security issues. Did you ever hold a hearing on these things or demonstrate interest in the area? | McCain: In other words, Russia-related security issues. Did you ever hold a hearing on these things or demonstrate interest in the area? |
| McCain is making the point that Sessions was not big into foreign relations, Russian bilateral relations and such. | McCain is making the point that Sessions was not big into foreign relations, Russian bilateral relations and such. |
| Kamala Harris, Democrat of California. She notes that Sessions has repeatedly said, “To the best of my recollection.” | Kamala Harris, Democrat of California. She notes that Sessions has repeatedly said, “To the best of my recollection.” |
| Did he refresh his memory with written documents like calendars and notes? | Did he refresh his memory with written documents like calendars and notes? |
| Sessions says he attempted to but the campaign was fast-moving and he didn’t keep notes of most of his meetings. “As appropriate I will supply the committee with documents. ... I would have to consult with lawyers.” | Sessions says he attempted to but the campaign was fast-moving and he didn’t keep notes of most of his meetings. “As appropriate I will supply the committee with documents. ... I would have to consult with lawyers.” |
| Harris asks, did Sessions review with lawyers the law regarding what he can and can’t share. | Harris asks, did Sessions review with lawyers the law regarding what he can and can’t share. |
| Sessions: “we discussed the basic parameters of testimony. I have not discussed disclosure rules.” | Sessions: “we discussed the basic parameters of testimony. I have not discussed disclosure rules.” |
| Harris: Will you commit to turning over documents where required: | Harris: Will you commit to turning over documents where required: |
| Sessions: I’ll commit to looking at it. | Sessions: I’ll commit to looking at it. |
| Harris: Did you have any undisclosed conversations with Russians? | Harris: Did you have any undisclosed conversations with Russians? |
| Sessions: I don’t recall it but I can’t testify as to what was said for example at the GOP convention. | Sessions: I don’t recall it but I can’t testify as to what was said for example at the GOP convention. |
| Harris: Contacts with Russian businessmen or Russian nationals? | Harris: Contacts with Russian businessmen or Russian nationals? |
| Sessions: I don’t believe so, although there were a lot of people at the convention. ... I’m not able to be rushed this fast, it makes me nervous. | Sessions: I don’t believe so, although there were a lot of people at the convention. ... I’m not able to be rushed this fast, it makes me nervous. |
| Harris: Any comms with Trump officials about Russia or Russian interests in the US before January 20? | Harris: Any comms with Trump officials about Russia or Russian interests in the US before January 20? |
| Sessions: “I believe I did... have conversations” about better relations between Russia and the United States. | Sessions: “I believe I did... have conversations” about better relations between Russia and the United States. |
| Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a Republican. | 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. | 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 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. | 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?” | Sessions: “Thank you for saying that, senator Cotton. It’s just like through the looking glass. What is this?” |
| Joe Manchin, Democrat of Virginia, has the ball. Would you go into a closed session? | 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.” | 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? | Manchin: Any other meetings with Russian officials? |
| Sessions: “I have wracked my brain and I do not believe so.” | 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? | Manchin: Any other meetings we should know about in the Trump campaign with Russians? |
| Sessions: “I don’t recall any.” | Sessions: “I don’t recall any.” |
| Manchin: What about these people: | Manchin: What about these people: |
| Paul Manafort? “I don’t have any information that he had done so.” | Paul Manafort? “I don’t have any information that he had done so.” |
| Steve Bannon? “No information.” | Steve Bannon? “No information.” |
| Michael Flynn: “I don’t recall it.” | Michael Flynn: “I don’t recall it.” |
| Reince Priebus: “I don’t recall.” | Reince Priebus: “I don’t recall.” |
| Stephen Miller: “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.” | 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.” | Carter Page: “I don’t know... I’m not sure. I don’t recall.” |
| James Lankford, Republican of Oklahoma, is up. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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? | 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.” | 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. | 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...” | 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? | King: Who asked for your opinion about Comey? |
| Sessions: I believe I’m correct in saying the president has said so. | Sessions: I believe I’m correct in saying the president has said so. |
| King: Who asked you for your opinion. | 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.” | 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? | King: Did Russia inquiry ever come up with Trump? |
| Sessions: I cannot answer that. | Sessions: I cannot answer that. |
| King: Do you believe Russia interfered in the election? | 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. | 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? | 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.] | 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.” | King: “I’m not talking about the campaign, I’m talking about what the Russians did.” |
| Notes from Twitter | Notes from Twitter |
| Pres. Trump aboard Air Force One watched Attorney Gen.Sessions testify during 90 minute flight to Milwaukee, aide tells @jeffzeleny | 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 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 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. | 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. | Nobody has asked Sessions whether he offered to resign. |
| Next up is Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri. | Next up is Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri. |
| Did you have a room at the Mayflower hotel, he asks? | Did you have a room at the Mayflower hotel, he asks? |
| Nope. | Nope. |
| How many people were at the reception? | How many people were at the reception? |
| Two to three dozen. | Two to three dozen. |
| Then you ran into people? | 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.” | “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. | Extremely friendly line of questioning. |
| Sessions is back to talking about his concerns about Comey’s handling of the Clinton emails investigation. | 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 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.” | 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. | Sessions is subtly insistent that Comey was fired over the Clinton matter, totally ignoring the president’s explicitly stated explanation. |