Sessions stands behind Russia story
But he says he now recalls meeting former Trump aide Papadopoulos
WASHINGTON – Attorney General Jeff Sessions defended himself fiercely Tuesday from any 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 — from former 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 admitted 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.
“It was a brilliant campaign in many ways, but it was a form of chaos,” he testified, noting that he was still doing his job as a senator while advising the campaign. “Sleep was in short supply.”
Democrats in both the House and Senate say they are troubled by inconsistencies between what Sessions has told them and the testimony of Page and Papadopoulos, even though that testimony does not prove Sessions was involved in any collusion.
“Over the past 10 months, the attorney general has testified before the Senate on three occasions about his knowledge of and contacts with Russian operatives,” Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said on the Senate floor Monday. “But he still has not gotten his story straight. ... This is a problem.”
“I have at all times conducted myself honorably. ... I’ve always told the truth.” Jeff Sessions U.S. attorney general