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| Jeff Sessions calls claims he colluded with Russia for Trump a 'detestable lie' | Jeff Sessions calls claims he colluded with Russia for Trump a 'detestable lie' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Attorney General Jeff Sessions has insisted he did not have contact with any foreign officials in a campaign capacity when he was an advisor on Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. | Attorney General Jeff Sessions has insisted he did not have contact with any foreign officials in a campaign capacity when he was an advisor on Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. |
| “Let me state this clearly, colleagues: I have never met with or had any conversation with, any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election in the United States”, Mr Sessions said, addressing the Senate Intelligence Committee. | “Let me state this clearly, colleagues: I have never met with or had any conversation with, any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election in the United States”, Mr Sessions said, addressing the Senate Intelligence Committee. |
| “Further I have no knowledge of any such conversations by anyone connected to the Trump campaign." | “Further I have no knowledge of any such conversations by anyone connected to the Trump campaign." |
| Mr Sessions appeared somewhat disturbed by the notion that anyone thought he may have colluded with the Russian government in order to sway the 2016 election in any way. | Mr Sessions appeared somewhat disturbed by the notion that anyone thought he may have colluded with the Russian government in order to sway the 2016 election in any way. |
| “The suggestion that I participated in any collusion, that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government, to hurt this country, which I have served with honour for 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie,” Mr Sessions said. | “The suggestion that I participated in any collusion, that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government, to hurt this country, which I have served with honour for 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie,” Mr Sessions said. |
| The statements came less than a week after former FBI Director James Comey testified before the same committee. Mr Comey said then, that he had asked Mr Sessions to make sure that he wasn’t left alone in a room with the President, because he was concerned that the conversations might breach in protocol from usual relations between the executive branch and the FBI. Mr Sessions confirmed that they had discussed the proper protocols. | The statements came less than a week after former FBI Director James Comey testified before the same committee. Mr Comey said then, that he had asked Mr Sessions to make sure that he wasn’t left alone in a room with the President, because he was concerned that the conversations might breach in protocol from usual relations between the executive branch and the FBI. Mr Sessions confirmed that they had discussed the proper protocols. |
| Mr Sessions defended his role in the firing of Mr Comey, saying that he still retained the ability as the attorney general to oversee FBI leadership even though he had recused himself from investigations into alleged Russian collusion. The Attorney General clarified that he hadn’t recused himself because of any wrongdoing, but rather because of Justice Department protocol that restricted him from participating in an investigation into a campaign that he had been a part of. | Mr Sessions defended his role in the firing of Mr Comey, saying that he still retained the ability as the attorney general to oversee FBI leadership even though he had recused himself from investigations into alleged Russian collusion. The Attorney General clarified that he hadn’t recused himself because of any wrongdoing, but rather because of Justice Department protocol that restricted him from participating in an investigation into a campaign that he had been a part of. |
| Many people cried foul when Mr Comey was fired last month, saying that the President’s decision constituted an obstruction of justice. Mr Trump later confirmed that the Russia investigation played a part in his decision to remove Mr Comey. | Many people cried foul when Mr Comey was fired last month, saying that the President’s decision constituted an obstruction of justice. Mr Trump later confirmed that the Russia investigation played a part in his decision to remove Mr Comey. |
| Mr Sessions told the Senate that he couldn't confirm or deny any private conversations that he had with the President about Mr Comey's firing, but did not say he was doing so because of executive privilege. Democrats on the committee noted that Mr Sessions was, legally speaking, free to discuss non-classified conversations with the President. Republicans like | Mr Sessions told the Senate that he couldn't confirm or deny any private conversations that he had with the President about Mr Comey's firing, but did not say he was doing so because of executive privilege. Democrats on the committee noted that Mr Sessions was, legally speaking, free to discuss non-classified conversations with the President. Republicans like |
| "I just don't understand your legal basis for your refusal to answer", Senator Angus King, an independent from Maine, said. | "I just don't understand your legal basis for your refusal to answer", Senator Angus King, an independent from Maine, said. |
| Senator James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma, defended Mr Sessions' decision not to discuss his private conversations with the President. Mr Lankford said that certain conversations with the President should remain private, and that there is a lengthy history of past attorneys general staying mum about their conversations with their presidents. | Senator James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma, defended Mr Sessions' decision not to discuss his private conversations with the President. Mr Lankford said that certain conversations with the President should remain private, and that there is a lengthy history of past attorneys general staying mum about their conversations with their presidents. |
| Senator Kamala Harris, a Democrat from California, pushed Mr Sessions more broadly on his repeated use of the phrase "to the best of my recollection", and asked if he had prepared for his testimony by checking written documents about his interactions with people during the 2016. Mr Sessions indicated that he had a lot of contacts during the campaign, that the campaign was fast-moving, and said he hadn't taken detailed notes for each meeting. When asked if he had met with Russian businessmen or Russian nationals during the 2016 Republican National Convention, Mr Sessions said that he didn't think he had. He hedged by saying that there were a lot of people at the convention. | |
| In another important moment of Mr Sessions' testimony, Arizona Senator John McCain used much of his time to point out that Mr Sessions' interest in Russian relations is a relatively new development. Before the 2016 campaign, Mr McCain said, Mr Sessions did not focus on Russia relations while serving in the Senate. But, after joining the Trump campaign, Mr McCain said, the future attorney general of the US took a greater and greater interest in the subject. | |
| The controversy that resulted from the removal of the FBI chief ultimately led Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to install former FBI Director Robert Mueller to head up an special counsel investigating the Russia’s 2016 meddling. | The controversy that resulted from the removal of the FBI chief ultimately led Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to install former FBI Director Robert Mueller to head up an special counsel investigating the Russia’s 2016 meddling. |
| Since then, some reports have indicated Mr Trump has been considering firing Mr Mueller from his position as special prosecutor, or counsel. | Since then, some reports have indicated Mr Trump has been considering firing Mr Mueller from his position as special prosecutor, or counsel. |
| Mr Sessions told the Senate Intelligence Committee that he didn’t think it would be appropriate for him to remove Mr Mueller, and that he has confidence in him. The attorney general refused to discuss his thoughts on Mr Trump firing Mueller. |