Sessions denies Russia collusion, defends Comey dismissal
WASHINGTON: US Attorney-General Jeff Sessions strongly denied on Tuesday that he had ever discussed interference in the US presidential election with Russian officials, as the US Congress pursued a controversy that has dogged the White House since Donald Trump took office.
“The suggestion that I participated in any collusion, that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government to hurt this country... or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie,” Sessions said.
“I have never met with or had any conversation with any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any type of campaign or election in the United States,” Sessions told the Senate intelligence committee. “Further, I have no knowledge of any such conversations by anyone connected to the Trump campaign.”
He also denied reports of a third undisclosed private meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak after a reception at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel in April 2016.
“I do not have any recollection of talking to the Russian ambassador or any other Russian officials” at the reception, said Sessions, whose other meetings with the ambassador had raised eyebrows after he initially failed to disclose them.
Senators also grilled Sessions on his role in the sacking of FBI director James Comey, who said in his testimony before the panel last week that Trump had fired him in a bid to influence the Russia investigation.
Sessions said he had recommended a “fresh start” at the FBI, but would not detail exact conversations about the matter with Trump and said Trump’s words on the decision would have to speak for themselves.
Sessions and Deputy Attorney-General Rod Rosenstein had recommended Comey be fired, and the White House had originally pointed to their advice before Trump said he already made the decision because of concerns about the ongoing Russia probe.
Sessions disqualified himself from participation in the federal investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election to comply with Justice Department rules, he said.
“I have no knowledge about this investigation as it is ongoing today, beyond what has been publicly reported,” he said.
His recommendation that Comey be fired did not contradict the terms of his recusal from the Russia probe, he told the Senate hearing.
Sessions, an early supporter of Donald Trump’s presidential bid, said that the department rule excludes employees from participation in probes of campaigns in which they served as advisers. Sessions said he has “taken no action whatsoever with regard to any such investigation.”