After both calls for Sessions’ for him to recuse himself from overseeing the FBI Investigation of Russia’s meddling in the U.S. Presidential election and for his resignation, Sessions has defended his statements saying they were in no way misleading but he now does not deny having contact with the Russians.
When Sessions first admitted to meeting with the Russian officials, he claimed it was by phone and later corrected it to be an in person meeting. One of those he met with is Sergey Kislyak who is considered to be one of Russian’s top spies. [Update]
Sessions met with Kislyak twice, in July on the sidelines of the Republican convention, and in September in his office when Sessions was a member of the Senate Armed Services committee. Sessions was an early Trump backer and regular surrogate for him as a candidate.
Sessions also claims he didn’t discuss Trump’s campaign but he did talk about election related news; yet another convoluted statement of he didn’t but he did.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, Congressman Elijah Cummings and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi are calling for AG Sessions’ resignation after it was found that while under oath, Sessions did not disclose his contact with Russian officials.
The calls for Sessions’ resignation and recusal came after the DOJ investigators reported Sessions’ meetings with the Russians.
While under oath during his confirmation hearing, Sessions denied having contact with Russian officials but the Washington Post published the explosive finding that Sessions did in fact have contact with the Russians while serving as an official surrogate for the Trump campaign and as Chair of the Trump Campaign National Advisory committee.
“I did not have communications with the Russians.” ~Jeff Sessions
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Sessions met with Russian envoy twice last year, encounters he later did not disclose
Then-Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) spoke twice last year with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Justice Department officials said, encounters he did not disclose when asked about possible contacts between members of President Trump’s campaign and representatives of Moscow during Sessions’s confirmation hearing to become attorney general.
One of the meetings was a private conversation between Sessions and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak that took place in September in the senator’s office, at the height of what U.S. intelligence officials say was a Russian cyber campaign to upend the U.S. presidential race.
Lying under oath can lead to 5 years imprisonment. At the least, he should resign. Sessions himself believes people who commit perjury must be removed from office.
Thursday, Mar 2, 2017 · 2:06:06 PM +00:00 · igualdad
Just in:
Whenever it’s appropriate I will recuse myself, there’s no doubt about that,” Sessions told the network, after saying: “I have not met with any Russians at any time to discuss any political campaign.”