Sessions stands firm
But he says he now recalls meeting former Trump aide Papadopoulos
WASHINGTON – Attorney General Jeff Sessions defended himself fiercely Tuesday fromany suggestion that he has lied in his testimony before Congress about his knowledge of contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian officials.
“I will not accept — and reject — accusations that I have ever lied,” Sessions testified under oath before the House Judiciary Committee. “That is a lie.”
Sessions added: “I have at all times conducted myself honorably. ... I’ve always told the truth.”
Sessions’ testimony at the House hearing was his first appearance before Congress since two former Trump campaign advisers testified they told Sessions about their contacts with Russia. Those revelations — fromformer advisers George Papadopoulos and Carter Page— appeared to contradict previous testimony Sessions gave to the Senate.
Sessions said Tuesday that he did not recall talking to Page last year about Page’s planned trip to Moscow
and remembered a March 2016 meeting with Papadopoulos only after seeing news reports about it. He said he made it clear to Papadopoulos that his suggestion that he arrange a meeting between then- candidate Donald Trump and Russian officials “may have been improper.”
On Oct. 18, Sessions told the Senate Judiciary Committee he had no knowledge of any contacts between Trump campaign advisers and Russians with ties to the Kremlin.
“I did not, and I’m not aware of anyone else that did,” Sessions told the Senate panel. “I don’t believe that happened.”
But Robert Mueller, the special counsel leading a criminal investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential race, later unsealed documents revealing that Papadopoulos acknowledged to the FBI he attended a national security meeting in March 2016 with candidate Trump, Sessions and other advisers.
At that meeting, which Sessions chaired, Papadopoulos told the group he had connections that could help arrange a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
No such meeting ever took place, Trump campaign officials have said.
Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in October to making false statements and “material omissions” to the FBI about communications he had with allies of the Russian government, according to a court document unsealed by Mueller.
“I had no recollection of this meeting with Mr. Papadopoulos until I saw news reports,” Sessions said Tuesday.
“I do now recall the meeting at Trump Tower.”
Sessions said he could not recall what Papadopoulos said.
Sessions said, however, that he “believes I made clear to him” that he should not represent the campaign to the Russians or anyone else.
“I pushed back against his suggestion ( of arranging a meeting between Trump and Russian officials) that I thought may have been improper,” Sessions said.
In response to a question from Rep. David Cicilline, D- R. I., Sessions said he is “confident” he never exchanged texts or emails with Papadopoulos during the campaign.
The attorney general said it’s difficult for him to recall details from a year ago in part because the Trump campaign was so chaotic.
Last week, the House Intelligence Committee released a transcript of its closed- door interview with Page in which the former Trump adviser said he told then- senator Sessions that he was traveling to Moscow to give a speech at the New Economic School.
“I mentioned it briefly to Senator Sessions as I was walking out the door ( of the Capitol Hill Club for Republicans),” Page testified. “I forget the exact date, but it was the Thursday night before I flew to Moscow to give my speech. So I mentioned it to him in passing.”
It was on that trip that Page met with Russian deputy prime minster Arkadiy Dvorkovich and several Russian lawmakers, according to the transcript.
Sessions said Tuesday that, in regard to Page, “while I do not challenge his account, I have no recollection” of speaking with him at the Capitol Hill Club.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D- Calif., asked Sessions: “He told you he was going to Russia. He was on the ( Trump campaign’s) national security team. You didn’t tell him not to go?”
Sessions replied, “Am I supposed to tell him not to go on a trip?
“Mr. Page said that after the meeting was over, he said he was going to Russia and I had no response,” Sessions said. “I don’t think that means I’ve done anything dishonest.”
After a similar question from Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D- N. Y., Sessions reacted angrily.
“Does that ( conversation with Page) establish some sort of improper contact with Russians?” Sessions snapped.
“He’s not Russian, you know.”