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| Attorney General Sessions responds to Comey hearing, testifies in Russia probe (WATCH LIVE) | Attorney General Sessions responds to Comey hearing, testifies in Russia probe (WATCH LIVE) |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US Attorney General Jeff Sessions appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee to testify about his possible role in the firing of FBI Director, James Comey and the investigation in contacts between Trump campaign associates and Russia, and his own contacts. | US Attorney General Jeff Sessions appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee to testify about his possible role in the firing of FBI Director, James Comey and the investigation in contacts between Trump campaign associates and Russia, and his own contacts. |
| Senator Richard Burr (R, North Carolina) chair of the committee framed the hearing as giving Sessions an opportunity to “separate fact from fiction.” | Senator Richard Burr (R, North Carolina) chair of the committee framed the hearing as giving Sessions an opportunity to “separate fact from fiction.” |
| Attorney General Sessions said it was critically important to investigate allegations of Russian interference during the election because such interference “can never be tolerated” and he encouraged the committee to get to the bottom of the matter. | Attorney General Sessions said it was critically important to investigate allegations of Russian interference during the election because such interference “can never be tolerated” and he encouraged the committee to get to the bottom of the matter. |
| He said he had no meeting with the Russians at the Mayflower Hotel but did attend a reception with staff of at least two dozen people including President Trump and had conversations during the pre-speech reception but doesn’t remember talking to any Russians. | He said he had no meeting with the Russians at the Mayflower Hotel but did attend a reception with staff of at least two dozen people including President Trump and had conversations during the pre-speech reception but doesn’t remember talking to any Russians. |
| “Any suggestions I was aware of any collusion or to undermine integrity of the democratic process in an appalling and detestable lie,” said Sessions. | “Any suggestions I was aware of any collusion or to undermine integrity of the democratic process in an appalling and detestable lie,” said Sessions. |
| It has been revealed that Sessions before he was selected for Attorney General had two meetings with Russian Ambassador Kislyak and other foreign ambassadors, and he acknowledged those two meetings and but nothing happened that was inappropriate.Committee members were interested to know how Sessions why he recused himself from the Russian investigation. | It has been revealed that Sessions before he was selected for Attorney General had two meetings with Russian Ambassador Kislyak and other foreign ambassadors, and he acknowledged those two meetings and but nothing happened that was inappropriate.Committee members were interested to know how Sessions why he recused himself from the Russian investigation. |
| Sessions said a Department of Justice regulation, 28 CFR 45.2, states that “no employee participating in a criminal prosecution with a personal relationship…with a political campaign, closely identified with a candidate or an elected official…” must recuse himself. | Sessions said a Department of Justice regulation, 28 CFR 45.2, states that “no employee participating in a criminal prosecution with a personal relationship…with a political campaign, closely identified with a candidate or an elected official…” must recuse himself. |
| Sessions said he met with career department officials, including senior ethics officials about what reported in press about his recusal. He said from that point in February until the formal recusal, he did not access any details, received only limited info that career officials determined was necessary for him to make a decision. | Sessions said he met with career department officials, including senior ethics officials about what reported in press about his recusal. He said from that point in February until the formal recusal, he did not access any details, received only limited info that career officials determined was necessary for him to make a decision. |
| “I don’t even read that carefully, and took no action whatsoever in regard to that investigation,” said Sessions. | “I don’t even read that carefully, and took no action whatsoever in regard to that investigation,” said Sessions. |
| On questions over FBI Director, James Comey’s firing, and about his recollection of conversations with Comey, after the briefing, Sessions said Comey did not provide any substance of conversations with the president but he did express concern about proper communications with the White House and president. | On questions over FBI Director, James Comey’s firing, and about his recollection of conversations with Comey, after the briefing, Sessions said Comey did not provide any substance of conversations with the president but he did express concern about proper communications with the White House and president. |
| “There is nothing wrong with President having a conversation with director of the FBI but cannot discuss ongoing investigations.” | “There is nothing wrong with President having a conversation with director of the FBI but cannot discuss ongoing investigations.” |
| On questions about the decision was made to fire FBI director, James Comey, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) ad when the president had decided to fire him?Sessions said the president asked his and the deputy attorney general’s opinion and it was given and he requested it in writing.Feinstein asked him about conversation he might have had with the president about Comey | On questions about the decision was made to fire FBI director, James Comey, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) ad when the president had decided to fire him?Sessions said the president asked his and the deputy attorney general’s opinion and it was given and he requested it in writing.Feinstein asked him about conversation he might have had with the president about Comey |
| “Not able to discuss, confirm or deny private conversations I may have had with the president about this or any other,” said Sessions explaining it was a long adhered rule of the Department of Justice. | “Not able to discuss, confirm or deny private conversations I may have had with the president about this or any other,” said Sessions explaining it was a long adhered rule of the Department of Justice. |
| Sessions told the Senate Intelligence Committee he never had conversations with FBI Director James Comey about his job performance before Comey's firing. | Sessions told the Senate Intelligence Committee he never had conversations with FBI Director James Comey about his job performance before Comey's firing. |
| Sessions recommended the firing last month, raising questions about whether he violated his recusal from the investigation into Trump campaign ties to Russia. But Sessions says he had concerns about Comey's job performance even before he was confirmed. | Sessions recommended the firing last month, raising questions about whether he violated his recusal from the investigation into Trump campaign ties to Russia. But Sessions says he had concerns about Comey's job performance even before he was confirmed. |
| READ MORE: 'Erosion of confidence’: White House addresses Comey firing & fallout | READ MORE: 'Erosion of confidence’: White House addresses Comey firing & fallout |
| Sessions called Comey's handling of the Clinton email case a “usurpation'' of Justice Department authority. | Sessions called Comey's handling of the Clinton email case a “usurpation'' of Justice Department authority. |
| He said he was involved in Comey's firing because he oversees the FBI. Sessions added that, "to suggest that a recusal from a single specific investigation" would render him unable to manage the leadership of the FBI would be "absurd." | He said he was involved in Comey's firing because he oversees the FBI. Sessions added that, "to suggest that a recusal from a single specific investigation" would render him unable to manage the leadership of the FBI would be "absurd." |
| Sessions said Comey's decision to announce the results of the investigation without Justice Department approval was "a stunning development" because "the FBI is the investigative team. They don't decide prosecution." | Sessions said Comey's decision to announce the results of the investigation without Justice Department approval was "a stunning development" because "the FBI is the investigative team. They don't decide prosecution." |
| He called Comey's move "a thunderous thing" and it caused him to conclude "that a fresh start was appropriate." | He called Comey's move "a thunderous thing" and it caused him to conclude "that a fresh start was appropriate." |
| The Attorney General was repeatedly asked about his stance that long standing Department of Justice rules prevented him from sharing the content of private conversations he shared with the president. | |
| “It’s my judgment it would be inappropriate for me to answer and reveal private conversations when he has not had full opportunity to review questions and approve such an answer, other privileges that could be invoked, investigation of special counsel,” said Sessions | |
| The issue was taken up by Senator Angus King (I, Maine) who asked whether the president had invoked executive privilege | |
| “He has not,” Sessions replied. | |
| King said as the president hadn’t invoked executive privilege, what was the legal basis for Sessions asserting the right not to share the contents of his conversations with the president. | |
| “What we try to do, most cabinet officials, is protect president’s right to do so, if it comes to a point the issue is clear and dispute about it, at some point, president will either assert or not, or some other privilege would be asserted,” said Sessions. “At this point it is premature for me to deny the president a full and intelligent choice about executive privilege.” | |
| In an exchange with Senator John Cornyn (R, Texas), when asked whether it was true that the Russian investigation didn’t factor into the decision to fire Comey, Sessions agreed. |