Sessions says Russia collusion ‘appalling and detestable lie’
Riled attorney general says he did not meet privately with envoy
Embattled Attorney General Jeff Sessions told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that any suggestion he colluded with Russian officials while he was advising the Trump campaign is “an appalling and detestable lie.”
“Let me state this clearly,” he said. “I have never met with or had any conversations with any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election.”
Sessions called the implication that he took part in an influence campaign against an American election “beyond” both his reach and the plot of the most outrageous spy novels and movies.
“It’s just like through the looking glass,” Sessions said.
Sessions said he could “not recall” a reported meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during a campaign event in April 2016 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington.
“I did not have any private meetings, nor do I recall any conversations with any Russian officials at the Mayflower Hotel,” Sessions testified. “I did not attend any meetings at that event. Prior to the speech ( by Trump), I attended a reception with my staff that included at least two dozen people and President Trump. ... I do not have any recollection of meeting or talking to the Russian ambassador or any other Russian officials.”
Sessions displayed flashes of anger during questioning by Sen. Ron Wyden, D- Ore., when the senator pressed him about suggestions that he had failed to provide full disclosure about his meetings with Kislyak.
Bouncing in his chair, the attorney general asserted that “secret innuendo is being leaked out there about me. People are suggesting through innuendo that I’m not being honest about matters.”
In a quick series of questions posed by Sen. Kamala Harris, DCalif., Sessions was less than definitive in his answers about his possible contacts with Russians.
“I don’t believe I have had any conversations with Russian businessmen or Russian nationals (during the campaign),” Sessions said. “If I qualify it, I will be accused of lying. I’m not used to being rushed like this, it makes me nervous.”
Sessions said he had not been briefed on the FBI’s investigation of alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election since becoming attorney general because he began considering recusal from the Russia matter immediately after taking office. Sessions said he recused himself because of departmental rules that bar his participation in an investigation of a campaign he was involved in.
“I have no knowledge of the investigation beyond what has been reported in the press,” Sessions said. “And I don’t even read that.”
Senators grilled the nation’s chief law enforcement officer on his prior contacts with Kislyak and his involvement in the firing of James Comey as FBI director.
The attorney general said it would be “absurd to suggest that a recusal from a single investigation would prevent me from managing an agency.” Sessions maintained that he was right to participate in Comey’s firing.
“It is my responsibility,” he said. “The recusal involved one case in the Department of Justice and the FBI. I’m the attorney general of the United States. It’s my responsibility to ensure that the department is run properly. I do not believe it is a sound position that if you recuse for a single case, you can’t make a decision about the leadership of that agency.”
Sessions challenged Comey’s testimony that the attorney general failed to act on the director’s concerns about Trump’s direct contact with Comey on Feb. 14. The former FBI director said the president urged him to drop an FBI investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Sessions said Comey expressed concern about the nature of the contact, but he did not disclose the content of his meeting with Trump. The attorney general said he acted on Comey’s concern, urging caution in contacts with the White House.
However, he said “there is nothing wrong ” with the president communicating directly with the FBI.
“What is problematic is to talk … about ongoing investigations that are not properly cleared through top levels of the Department of Justice,” he said.
Sessions’ testimony came less than a week after Comey raised questions about the attorney general’s role in his firing last month.
“Attorney General Sessions, this is your opportunity to separate fact from fiction,’’ said Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C.
Comey testified that he did not brief Sessions on what he felt was Trump pressuring him on the investigation because he knew Sessions was considering recusing himself, and “we also were aware of facts that I can’t discuss in an open setting that would make (Sessions’) continued engagement in a Russia-related investigation problematic.”
Sessions announced he was recusing himself from the Russia investigation March 2.
Hours before Sessions’ appearance, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told a separate Senate panel there was no reason to consider the removal of Russia special counsel Robert Mueller, despite suggestions that Trump was weighing such an action.
“I appointed him; I stand by that decision,” Rosenstein told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee. “I will defend the integrity of that investigation.”
Because Sessions recused himself from all matters related to the investigation, the authority to appoint and remove the special counsel belongs to Rosenstein.
Sessions told the Intelligence Committee he has “confidence in Mr. Mueller.”
Sessions declined to reveal the content of his conversations with the president, including whether Trump expressed disagreement with the appointment of a special counsel to oversee the Russia investigation and whether the president told him he fired Comey because of his handling of the Russia investigation.
“I’m not used to being rushed like this, it makes me nervous.” Attorney General Jeff Sessions