US attorney general denies aiding Russia
Attorney general angrily tells Senate committee he will not be intimidated by ‘false attacks and leaks’
Donald Trump’s attorney general last night denied being part of any attempt to work with Russia and influence the outcome of last year’s presidential election. Jeff Sessions told a Senate intelligence committee investigating possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia: “Let me state this clearly: I have never met with, or had any conversations with, any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of any interference with any campaign or election in the United States.”
DONALD TRUMP’S attorney general last night denied being part of any attempt to work with Russia to influence last year’s presidential election, dismissing the accusation as a “detestable lie”.
Jeff Sessions appeared before the Senate intelligence committee investigating possible ties between officials of the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia. He angered Democrats on the panel by refusing to answer questions about his conversations with the president.
But Republicans, worried that the White House is unable to shift a cloud of suspicion, will be pleased by his fiery rebuttal of any wrongdoing.
“The suggestion that I participated in any collusion or that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government to hurt this country, which I have served with honour for over 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie,” he said.
Mr Sessions gave evidence days after James Comey, the former FBI director, testified that he believed he was fired in an effort to influence the bureau’s inquiry into Russian meddling.
US intelligence agencies believe Russian hackers were directed by the Kremlin to try to sway the presidential election away from Hillary Clinton and the Senate probe is one of several looking into whether Trump campaigners were aware of the cyber attacks.
Mr Sessions – one of Mr Trump’s earliest supporters – became caught up in the investigation after swearing under oath that he did not meet any Russian officials during last year’s campaign. It later emerged that he twice met Sergey Kislyak, Russia’s ambassador to Washington, forcing him to recuse himself from the Department of Justice inquiry.
Senators wanted to know whether there was a third meeting in April last year when the two men were both at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington.
“If any brief interaction occurred in passing with the Russian ambassador during that reception, I do not remember it,” he said.
His answers were peppered with similar qualifications. And, at times, he took an aggressive stance, hitting back at any suggestion that his recusal suggests any kind of guilt. “These false attacks, innuendos, the leaks – you can be sure will not intimidate me,” he said.
The White House has been unable to shake the scandal while the never-ending stream of hearings and headlines continues. Yesterday, the president’s supporters began a media blitz against Robert Mueller, the special counsel who has replaced Mr Sessions to lead the Justice Department investigation, accusing him of bias.
Newt Gingrich, the former House of Representatives Speaker, claimed the lawyers Mr Mueller was recruiting amounted to a “rigged game”, saying: “It’s a mistake to pretend that this is going to be some neutral investigation.”