
Posted: 2:26 pm Tuesday, June 13th, 2017
By Jamie Dupree
Amid questions about the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 elections and the firing of former FBI Director James Comey, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is on Capitol Hill before the Senate Intelligence Committee, getting a chance to tell his side of the story in a public session, as Sessions told his former colleagues in no uncertain terms that he did not collude with Russia or have knowledge of any Russian election meddling.
Here is a rundown of today’s hearing:
5:06 pm – Chairman Burr asks Sessions to go back and see if he can work with the White House to allow responses to Senators’ questions on subjects where Sessions refused to give answers.
Burr asks Sessions to work with White House to see if there are areas that they feel comfortable allowing Sessions to discuss
— Michael Tackett (@tackettdc) June 13, 2017
5:03 pm – Wrapping up questioning for Democrats, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) raises red flags again about Sessions not answering a number of questions.
5:00 pm – Asked by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) about Russian foreign policy goals, Sessions sounds like he’s back in his old job as Senator, saying Russian hostile actions are in many ways a threat. But asked if he raised concerns about Russian election interference, Sessions doesn’t recall discussions about that.
4:54 pm – Sessions continues to say that his advice was given based on the Hillary Clinton investigation; Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) suggests that was a cover story to paper over the reason stated by President Trump, that Comey was fired because of the Russia probe.
Sen Reed reading Sessions' statements commending Comey's handling of Clinton investigation during campaign. "You had no criticism of him."
— Pema Levy (@pemalevy) June 13, 2017
4:48 pm – Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) using his time to bolster the case against James Comey, based on his handling of the Hillary Clinton investigation. Sessions said the background was “stunning” in how Comey mishandled that probe.
4:43 pm – Once again, a line of questioning by Harris has drawn criticism from other GOP Senators.
Apparently, Sen. Reed gets to interrupt Jeff Sessions. And Senator Cotton. And Senator Warner. Everyone except… Senator Harris.
— Elizabeth Goitein (@LizaGoitein) June 13, 2017
4:41 pm – Pressed by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Sessions again defends his refusal to answer certain questions about his conversations with President Trump. But he doesn’t really outline why, other than a general argument that top officials should not reveal details of talks with the President.
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t recall.”
“I don’t remember.”
Did you refresh your memory with any written documents? #SessionsHearing— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 13, 2017
4:36 pm – As Chairman Burr tells Sessions that “we are very much focused on Russia’s involvement,” fellow Republican Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) is heard saying, “Doesn’t seem like it.”
4:33 pm – Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) chides Democrats over the hearing, saying none of them have asked today about any collusion involving President Trump, as he said critics of the President are going down all sorts of “rabbit trails”
4:25 pm – Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) again asks Sessions why he has never received a briefing on the Russian interference; Sessions says it’s very important to investigate what the Russians did, because there may have been an impact on the election.
Sessions says he does not recall Trump campaign and administration officials meeting with Russian officials https://t.co/WMK15qGp2H
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) June 13, 2017
4:19 pm – Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) sticks up for Sessions: “You speak as a man eager to set the record straight.” Lankford compares Sessions to former AG Eric Holder, whom he says didn’t turn over documents and cooperate.
4:13 pm – Sessions says the President has not asserted executive privilege; Sen. Angus King (I-ME) asks why Sessions is not answering certain questions.
Sen. Angus King (I-ME) notes Pres. Trump has not invoked executive privilege: "What is the basis of your refusal to answer these questions?" pic.twitter.com/KA7hLwDLvr
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 13, 2017
4:11 pm – Sessions acknowledges that he has not received a briefing about the Russia investigation.
Attorney General Sessions says he was never briefed on Russian election interference: "I know nothing but what I've read in the paper." pic.twitter.com/AKwbrYt6IZ
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) June 13, 2017
4:07 pm – Sessions gets a very friendly line of questioning from Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO).
4:01 pm – Asked by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) if he is invoking executive privilege, Sessions says, “It would be inappropriate” to share private conversations with the President.
.@MartinHeinrich after AG Jeff Sessions declines to answer question: "You're impeding this investigation." pic.twitter.com/KRKOVkMB9A
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) June 13, 2017
3:59 pm – Sessions says Comey should have spoken with then Acting Deputy Attorney General Dana Boente, about any concerns with conversations involving President Trump.
3:58 pm – Sessions says he does not regret being involved in the decision to fire Comey, “I think I had a duty to do so.”
3:54 pm – Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) bores in on what Sessions did on the Comey firing.
Meanwhile: Interns in the Sessions audience are giggling at Wyden's "that doesn't pass the smell test."
— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) June 13, 2017
3:52 pm – Sessions gets mad at Wyden, as Wyden asks about Comey’s statement last week, that there was something “problematic” that would require Sessions to recuse himself.
In testy exchange, AG Jeff Sessions decries "secret innuendo being leaked out there" about his recusal https://t.co/rYsOYVGAu6 pic.twitter.com/dyNdzWWgVa
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) June 13, 2017
Here is the video from last week, with Comey hinting at some kind of secret reason why Sessions would be recusing himself. This is what Sessions is getting mad about.
3:51 pm – Sessions says he basically recused himself on his very first day as Attorney General, because he did not look at any materials related to the Russia probe.
3:49 pm – Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) says there is no legal basis for “stonewalling” by Sessions and other officials when asked direct questions by lawmakers on the Russia probe. Sessions fires back: “I am not stonewalling.”
Sessions denies "stonewalling" on talks with Trump: " I am following the historic policies of the Dept. of Justice" https://t.co/JFZWzrAERd
— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 13, 2017
3:46 pm – Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) takes Sessions back through an Oval Office meeting where the President had Comey stay behind. Sessions also asked about Trump recording conversations in the White House; “I don’t know,” Sessions says of possible recordings.
Sen. Rubio: Do you know if the President records conversations?
AG Sessions: "I do not" https://t.co/KKWMFTFPKu
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) June 13, 2017
3:41 pm – Pressed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sessions cites Comey’s work during the investigation of the Hillary Clinton email question – “it was my best judgment that a fresh start at the FBI was the appropriate thing to do,” as Sessions said it was the right decision to fire Comey.
Feinstein: Do you concur that POTUS was going to fire Comey regardless?
AG: I guess I'll just have to let his words speak for [themselves]. pic.twitter.com/rqHmiKkX7a— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 13, 2017
3:39 pm – Sessions says he is not able to discuss, confirm or deny questions of what they spoke about with President Trump when it comes to Comey’s dismissal as FBI Director.
Sessions says he is "unable to comment" on private conversations with President Trump regarding Comey firing https://t.co/AEXvkeHDpO
— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 13, 2017
3:37 pm – Sessions says he never heard anyone on the Trump campaign say anything about Russian involvement in 2016. Asked if he would have left the campaign upon getting that news, Sessions said “maybe.” That was quickly noted by Democrats watching on TV.
GOP Senator: if you'd become aware of improper Russia contacts on the Trump campaign, you'd have "headed for the exit?"
Sessions: "maybe."
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) June 13, 2017
3:35 pm – Sessions says he can absolutely say that he had no conversations with any Russian officials, says there was no hint of help coming from Moscow, as he says the underlying investigation is a “serious matter.”
3:34 pm – Sessions again says it is “absolutely false” that he colluded at all with the Russians during the 2016 campaign.
VIDEO: AG Sessions says any suggestion he participate in or was aware of collusion with the Russians is a lie. https://t.co/DW1tGtIUJo pic.twitter.com/3IjXcTVbDz
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) June 13, 2017
3:23 pm – Sessions is asked about potential pardons by President Trump; Sessions says he can’t talk about such matters. Not clear if he has had such a discussion with Mr. Trump.
Sessions won't say whether he had conversations about potential pardons of Trump associates.
— Nina Bernstein (@NinaBernstein1) June 13, 2017
3:20 pm – Sessions is asked by Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) if the President is thinking about removing Robert Mueller as Special Counsel; Sessions says he knows nothing about those reports.
AG says he has confidence in special counsel Robert Mueller; says he has "no idea" whether Pres. Trump maintains confidence in Mueller. pic.twitter.com/GDPMtvyRPd
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 13, 2017
3:14 pm – Sessions says he did not recuse himself from the Russia investigation because he was the focus of any investigation – rather it was because of his involvement in the Trump Campaign.
Sessions: "I did not recuse myself from defending my honor." https://t.co/ZHximrpl45
— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 13, 2017
3:09 pm – The Q&A begins after a very strong statement from Attorney General Sessions.
3:07 pm – Sessions: false attacks, innuendo, and leaks will “not intimidate me.”
AG Sessions: "I recused myself from" Russia probe, "but I did not recuse myself from defending my honor scurrilous and false allegations." pic.twitter.com/mPdZpwvxcS
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) June 13, 2017
3:02 pm – Sessions giving no ground in his opening statement, flatly denying that he has done anything to interfere in the Russian investigation.
BREAKING: Attorney General Jeff Sessions tells Senate panel he did not have a third meeting with Russian ambassador.
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) June 13, 2017
2:58 pm – Sessions says any suggestion that he was part of Russian collusion was an “appalling and detestable lie”
Sessions: "I have never met with or had any conversation with" Russian officials regarding election interference https://t.co/PCEJc6PgBj
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) June 13, 2017
2:56 pm – Sessions foreshadows that he will not talk about private conversations with President Trump. The Attorney General also denies
2:54 pm – After opening statements from the top members of each party, Attorney General Sessions takes the oath and begins his statement.
2:45 pm – Intelligence Committee chairman Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) rattles off four main questions for Sessions, focusing on contacts with Russia officials and any role in the firing of Comey. Burr says he wants a “candid and honest” discussion.
2:42 pm – The gavel is down. Toe meets leather.
2:40 pm – To the sounds of clicking shutters from still photographers, Attorney General Jeff Sessions arrives in the hearing room and walks to the witness table.
2:33 pm – We may see some tough questions from Democrats, who weren’t pleased with Sessions leaving the Senate and becoming the Attorney General in the first place.
I’m ready to question Jeff Sessions. The attorney general appears before the Intelligence Committee shortly. Watch: https://t.co/utu0JSGFgU
— Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) June 13, 2017
2:27 pm – What kind of questions might get asked of Sessions? Look back to Comey’s testimony from last week, and that gives us some clues.
2:26 pm – This hearing may get started a few minutes late, as the Senate is now taking a vote on the floor. Sessions is no stranger to this committee room, Hart 216, which has been used in a number of high profile events over the years. Last week, Senators heard from Comey in this same spot.