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Sessions denies collusion with Russia
AG tells Senate panel: ‘Detestable lie’ that he colluded with Russians
Attorney general says suggestion he aided efforts to influence 2016 election is a “detestable lie.”
WASHINGTON — In an often combative defense of his brief tenure as top U.S. lawman, Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday denied any improper contacts with Russian officials and called any suggestion that he aided alleged Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election “an appalling and detestable lie.”
Appearing before the Senate intelligence committee, Sessions also 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 campaign and any ties with President Donald Trump’s aides.
Sessions frequently said he could not remember details of meetings and conversations — and even could not say for certain if he met for a third time with Sergey Kislyak, Russia’s envoy in Washington, during a Mayflower Hotel reception in April 2016. 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.”
The attorney general offered a staunch defense of his actions for two hours and refused to describe his interactions with Trump other than to say the president’s words and tweets “speak for themselves.”
The attorney general reminded lawmakers that he had served alongside them for 20 years as senator from Alabama before he joined the Trump administration.
“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 honor for 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie,” he added 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.
“I’m not able ... to confirm or deny” any conversations with the president, Sessions said.
Sen. Jack Reed, R-R.I., noted that Sessions had 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, DN.M., 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.
Sessions said he had a duty to keep his conversations with Trump private even though Trump has not asserted executive privilege — a sensitive claim that could push the administration into a head-on legal and political collision with Congress and the courts.
Outside experts said they were baffled by Sessions’ refusal to discuss his conversations with Trump.
“Executive privilege clearly exists, but his attempt at asserting it and not asserting it at the same time was bumbling and incoherent,” said Jens David Ohlin, a Cornell Law School professor and expert in international criminal law. “He was all over the map.”
The hearing gave Sessions an opportunity to give his own version of a turbulent month that saw the Justice Department appoint Robert Mueller as special counsel to run the Russia investigations. He also responded to Comey’s claim last week that he was “aware of facts” that could make Sessions involvement in the Russia probe “problematic.”
“What are they?” asked Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
“Why don’t you tell me?” Sessions responded sharply. “There are none, Sen. Wyden, I can tell you that for absolute certain.”
Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigations on March 2 following news reports that he had failed to disclose two other meetings with Kislyak during the campaign last year.
He said Tuesday that his recusal did not prevent him from urging the president to fire Comey.
Sessions’ testimony came as Washington buzzed with speculation about whether Trump was preparing to fire Mueller.
“I think he’s weighing that option,” Trump confidant Christopher Ruddy said Monday night in an interview on PBS.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told a separate hearing earlier Tuesday that only he has the authority to fire Mueller and that he would not do so without cause — even if the president ordered him to do so.