Last edited Thu May 11, 2017, 07:34 PM - Edit history (1)
I thought this strange and weird....supposedly a reply to an earlier email by me to Sen Grassley (there were many that I sent, but none related to the subject in this email and yes, unfortunately, Grassley is my senator.) I have posted this email because it makes no sense to me......
Senator Chuck Grassley <Senator@grassley.senate.gov>
To:
May 9 at 6:14 PM
May 9, 2017
Dear Ms. :
Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding Attorney General Sessions. As your Senator, it is important for me to hear from you.
Recently, there have been concerns raised regarding two meetings Attorney General Sessions had with the Russian Ambassador in 2016. One of those meetings was arranged by the Obama administration, and the other was in Mr. Session’s Senate office with his aides during the course of his work as a Senator. He has denied that either involved discussions of the presidential campaign, and it is not unusual at all for Senators to meet with Ambassadors as part of their work. I’d like to clear up some misinformation regarding allegations that Attorney General Sessions lied to Senator Franken regarding these meetings. During Attorney General Sessions’ confirmation hearing, Senator Franken asked a question in reference to communications with the Russians “in the course of” the Trump campaign. Similarly, Senator Leahy submitted a question for the record asking whether he had been in contact with the Russian government “about the 2016 election.” There is no evidence that the interactions Attorney General Sessions had with the Russian Ambassador were about the campaign or done in the course of his role as a Trump surrogate, rather than his role as a Senator.
Having worked with Attorney General Sessions for decades, I know him to be an honest and forthright public servant. But even when nothing inappropriate has happened, the appearance of a conflict of interest is reason enough for Justice Department officials to recuse themselves from ongoing matters. Just as I did with Attorney General Lynch after her private meeting with President Clinton in the midst of an investigation, I suggested that Attorney General Sessions’ recusal from any investigation regarding the Trump campaign would be appropriate. Similarly, Senator Franken said “I simply asked [Sessions]: What would he do if he had learned that other members of the campaign had met with the Russians, hoping he would say that he would recuse himself.” Attorney General Sessions has recused himself, which is exactly what Senator Franken had hoped he would do. Attorney General Sessions agreed that his recusal was appropriate in order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, and in consultation with Department of Justice professionals, on March 2, 2017 he announced his official recusal from any investigation pertaining to the Trump campaign.
Some have also claimed that Attorney General Sessions waited too long to clarify the record when it became known that there were differing interpretations of his testimony to the Judiciary Committee. The Attorney General’s letter to the Committee made his position clear. This letter can be viewed here: https://www.grassley.senate.gov/sites/default/files/judiciary/upload/Sessions%2C%2003-06-17%2C%20letter%2C%20testimony.pdf
He answered Senator Franken’s question honestly and accurately, as far as he understood the question at the time. The Washington Post published an article interpreting Senator Franken’s question differently and challenging the Attorney General’s answer. Before this article, there was no reason for the Attorney General to doubt his interpretation of the question, so there was no reason for him to clarify something he didn’t know other people found unclear. As soon as multiple interpretations became apparent, the Attorney General clarified. He sent his letter to the Committee just a few days later, which is a perfectly reasonable, good-faith way to address honest misunderstandings.
Thank you again for contacting me. I encourage you to keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Chuck Grassley
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= new reply since forum marked as read
