AG Sessions Testifies Before Senate Intelligence Committee on Russia Investigation

1. Opening Statements and Committee Context

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Burr and Vice Chairman Warner frame the hearing as part of their investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. They outline key topics including Sessions' meetings with Russian officials, his role in the Trump campaign, his recusal decision, and his involvement in Comey's firing.

2. Sessions' Opening Statement and Campaign Denials

Sessions delivers opening remarks denying any collusion with Russia, calling such allegations 'appalling and detestable lies.' He addresses the Mayflower Hotel controversy, stating he has no recollection of meeting Russian Ambassador Kislyak and emphasizing that routine conversations with foreign officials were not improper.

3. Russian Contacts and Meetings Clarification

Sessions clarifies his meetings with Ambassador Kislyak: one in his Senate office in March 2016 and a brief encounter in July 2016 at the Republican convention. He maintains uncertainty about the Mayflower Hotel event on April 27, 2016, where he attended a VIP reception and heard a presidential foreign policy speech but does not recall meeting the ambassador.

4. Recusal Decision and Rationale

Sessions explains his March 2, 2017 recusal from the Russia investigation as required by 28 CFR 45.2, a Department of Justice regulation prohibiting employees who served as campaign advisors from participating in campaign investigations. He emphasizes this was not an admission of wrongdoing but a compliance with ethics rules.

5. Comey Firing and Leadership Concerns

Sessions defends his involvement in recommending Comey's firing, stating it was based on legitimate management concerns about Comey's handling of the Clinton investigation and his violation of DOJ policies on commenting publicly about investigations. He maintains this did not violate his recusal.

6. Conversations with Comey About Presidential Meeting

Sessions testifies about his interaction with Comey after Comey's one-on-one meeting with the president on February 14, 2017. He states Comey expressed concern about being left alone with the president, and Sessions affirmed the importance of following DOJ policies on White House communications.

7. Executive Privilege and Declined Answers

Sessions repeatedly declines to answer questions about private conversations with the president, citing longstanding DOJ policy protecting presidential communications. He distinguishes this from invoking executive privilege (which only the president can do) but maintains it would be premature to waive potential privileges.

8. Campaign Role and Foreign Policy Team

Sessions discusses his role as chairman of Trump's National Security Advisory Committee, stating the team 'never functioned as a coherent team.' He denies knowledge of any campaign members meeting regularly with Russians or any improper foreign interference discussions.

9. Combating Russian Interference and DOJ Priorities

Sessions emphasizes his commitment to investigating Russian interference and protecting election integrity. He also highlights other DOJ priorities including combating gang violence, drug trafficking, and rising overdose deaths, framing his role as broadly protecting American citizens.