Trump law chief ‘kept links with Russians secret’
DONALD Trump’s top law chief is under growing pressure to quit after wrongly claiming he did not meet a top Russian diplomat in the run-up to the US elections.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions had two discussions with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak last year – once in his private office after it emerged Moscow had hacked the campaign.
But he mentioned neither during his confirmation hearing when he said he knew of no contacts between Trump’s camp and the Russians.
After severe pressure Sessions last night removed himself from an FBI probe into alleged Russian interference in the US election.
Now opposition Democrats are demanding he quits his post, with some suggesting he has committed perjury.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said: “Sessions is not fit to serve. There must be an independent, bipartisan, outside commission to investigate connections to the Russians.”
In his confirmation on January 10, he was asked: “Have you been in contact with anyone connected to any part of Russian government about the 2016 election?” He replied: “No”.
The 70-year-old, dogged by racism claims, was a major adviser to Trump on immigration and security.
After news of the meetings emerged he hit back: “I have not met with any Russians at any time to discuss any political campaign.”
Kislyak, Russia’s ambassador to Washington, is considered one of his nation’s top spies and spy-recruiters.