Attorney General Jeff Sessions recuses himself from Russia investigations

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recused himself from the investigation of alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign. Sessions made this decision after it was confirmed that he had two meetings with the Russian ambassador during the 2016 campaign, and did not disclose these contacts during senate testimony.

Republicans have been saying that Sessions should recuse himself from an ongoing probe into Russian influence on the 2016 election and possible complicity by the Trump campaign. Top Democrats are demanding the resignation of the Attorney General.

President Trump mentioned Sessions during a speech today, and said that he should not recuse himself.

During Sessions’ confirmation hearing, in an exchange with Senator Al Franken, he testified that he had no “communications with the Russians” during the presidential campaign.

While a Senator in 2016, Sessions received Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak in his office in September, and at a Heritage Foundation event, during the Republican National Convention in July. This story was reported by the Washington Post, and confirmed by the Justice Department.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Republican Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, and other Republicans had called for him to recuse himself and for a clarification of what he meant during his testimony.

The Democrats’ response has been more severe, with leader of the Senate Democrats Nancy Pelosi demanding that Sessions resign and for a bipartisan investigation into Trump’s possible ties to Russia.

“Sessions is not fit to serve as the top law enforcement officer of our country and must resign,” she said in statement Wednesday night.

We are far past recusal. Jeff #Sessions lied under oath. Anything less than resignation or removal from office is unacceptable.

— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) March 2, 2017

Attorney General Jeff Sessions, if you lied under oath to the American people and Congress, you need to resign. https://t.co/3A41x3nTbf pic.twitter.com/AcZeleFttZ

— Sen. Al Franken (@SenFranken) March 2, 2017

All House Judiciary Cmte Dems are now calling for an immediate criminal investigation into Jeff Sessions’ statements before Congress. pic.twitter.com/xpxJN95GZQ

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 2, 2017

Sessions spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said that Sessions had 25 conversations with foreign ambassadors in the last year due to his position on the Senate Armed Services Committee. She stated that, “he was asked during the hearing about communications between Russia and the Trump campaign – not about meetings he took as a senator and a member of the Armed Services Committee.”

At a press conference today, Sessions sought to distinguish his conversations with the Russian ambassador in his role as a senator from his role with the Trump campaign. White House press secretary Sean Spicer defended Sessions today saying that he was simply doing his job as a former senator and did not mislead Congress during his January confirmation hearing.

Session’s statement in full reads:

“During the course of the confirmation proceedings on my nomination to be Attorney General, I advised the Senate Judiciary Committee that ‘[i]f a specific matter arose where I believed my impartiality might reasonably be questioned, I would consult with Department ethics officials regarding the most appropriate way to proceed.’

“During the course of the last several weeks, I have met with the relevant senior career Department officials to discuss whether I should recuse myself from any matters arising from the campaigns for President of the United States.

“Having concluded those meetings today, I have decided to recuse myself from any existing or future investigations of any matters related in any way to the campaigns for President of the United States.

“I have taken no actions regarding any such matters, to the extent they exist.

“This announcement should not be interpreted as confirmation of the existence of any investigation or suggestive of the scope of any such investigation.

“Consistent with the succession order for the Department of Justice, Acting Deputy Attorney General and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Dana Boente shall act as and perform the functions of the Attorney General with respect to any matters from which I have recused myself to the extent they exist.”

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