Sessions angrily denies having improper contacts with Russia
WASHINGTON — In an often combative defence of his brief tenure as America’s top lawman, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday forcefully denied any improper contacts with Russian officials and called any suggestion that he aided Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election “an appalling and detestable lie.”
Appearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sessions also vigorously defended his role in the firing of FBI director James Comey last month although he previously had recused himself from the investigation that Comey was leading into Russia’s role in the presidential election campaign and any ties with Trump’s aides.
Sessions frequently said he could not remember details of meetings and conversations — and even could not say for certain whether he met for a third time with Sergey Kislyak, Russia’s envoy in Washington, during a Mayflower Hotel reception in April last year. He did not rule out such a meeting but repeatedly said he did not recall it.
“It’s conceivable that it occurred. I just don’t remember it,” he said. Later, however, he slammed reports that he had held some sort of secret side meeting with the Russian “through the looking glass.”
Alternately angry and deferential in tone, the attorney general offered a staunch defence of his actions for two hours in the latest political showstopper on Capitol Hill — and just as steadfastly refused to describe his interactions with President Donald Trump other than to say the president’s words and tweets “speak for themselves.”
Sessions thus might have gained more than the White House since his testimony, five days after Comey’s gripping appearance before the same panel, kept the expanding investigations in the spotlight for another day, overshadowing Trump’s trip to Wisconsin to tout his economic record.
The attorney general reminded the lawmakers that he had served alongside them for 20 years as senator from Alabama before he joined the Trump administration.
“Let me state this clearly, colleagues: I have never met with or had any conversation with any Russians or foreign officials concerning any type of interference in any campaign or election in the United States,” Sessions declared.
“And the suggestion that I participated in any collusion, that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government, or 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,” he said in a heated tone.
But Sessions repeatedly refused to reveal anything about his conversations with Trump, frustrating lawmakers who pressed him in vain to say whether the president had mentioned Russia or otherwise explained his reasons for firing Comey on May 9.
Sen. Jack Reed, a Republican, noted that Sessions had effusively praised Comey after he had reopened the FBI probe of Hillary Clinton’s emails 11 days before the election, an event that Democrats said hurt her campaign.
Reed pressed Sessions to explain why he later decided to recommend Comey’s dismissal.
“In retrospect, I think [Comey’s conduct] was more egregious than I appreciated at the time,” Sessions responded.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat, at one point accused Sessions of “obstructing” the Senate investigation.
“I am not stonewalling,” Sessions insisted, his voice rising. “I am following the historic policies of the Department of Justice” regarding confidential communications with the White House.