Top US lawyer insists Russia collusion claim is ‘detestable lie’

WASHINGTON: US Attorney-General Jeff Sessions has strongly denied any involvement in any collusion with Russia during last year’s presidential campaign by Donald Trump.

“The suggestion that I participated in any collusion, or that I was aware of any collusion, with the Russian government to hurt or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie,” he told lawmakers when testifying before the US Senate Intelligence Committee.

Not one thing happened that was improper in his two meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during last year’s campaign, said Sessions, who was then an Alabama senator and a close Trump adviser.

Sessions also denied that he had a third, unreported meeting with the Russian ambassador during the campaign that made Trump US president. “I have never met, or had any conversations with, any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election in the US,” Trump’s top lawyer said.

“Further, I have no knowledge of any such conversations by anyone connected with the Trump campaign.”

US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an effort to interfere in the US presidential election, including hacking and disclosing damaging e-mails against Trump’s rival, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Russia has denied any such interference, and Trump has denied any collusion with Russia.

Sessions also rejected misconduct in the firing of James Comey as director of the FBI.