Sessions spoke twice with Russian ambassador during Trump's presidential campaign

[BeyondGeography]

Source: Washington Post

Then-Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) spoke twice last year with Russias ambassador to the United States, Justice Department officials said, encounters he did not disclose when asked about possible contacts between members of President Trumps campaign and representatives of Moscow during Sessionss 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 senators office, at the height of what U.S. intelligence officials say was a Russian cyber campaign to upend the U.S. presidential race.

The previously undisclosed discussions could fuel new congressional calls for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Russias alleged role in the 2016 presidential election. As attorney general, Sessions oversees the Justice Department and the FBI, which have been leading investigations into Russian meddling and any links to Trumps associates. He has so far resisted calls to recuse himself.

...At his Jan. 10 Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing, Sessions was asked by Sen. Al Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, what he would do if he learned of any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of the 2016 campaign.

“I’m not aware of any of those activities,” he responded. He added: “I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I did not have communications with the Russians.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-spoke-twice-with-russian-ambassador-during-trumps-presidential-campaign-justice-officials-say/2017/03/01/77205eda-feac-11e6-99b4-9e613afeb09f_story.html?utm_term=.19ce726a193e

[uponit7771]

1. Yeah, fuck Sergie Sessions too ... these fucks are all up in Russia's ass. The false bar is collusio

... collusion, there needs to be no proof of collussion for an independent investigation just contacts with an agresser country for this shit to go down to the wire.

[FailureToCommunicate]

2. So much is rotten in the state of Denmark!

The smell MUST be alerting some authorites who are in a position to do SOMETHING.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. Yeah but the Russians are white

So that's okay.

[sarcasmo]

4. This whole Cabal is crooked.

[Sunlei]

5. Republican Senator Sessions lied about his meetings with Russians. Sessions you're fired.

[riversedge]

10. Sessions: " and I did not have communications with the Russians.............." Right, he LIED!!

.........At his Jan. 10 Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing, Sessions was asked by Sen. Al Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, what he would do if he learned of any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of the 2016 campaign.

“I’m not aware of any of those activities,” he responded. He added: “I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I did not have communications with the Russians.”....................

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

30. "I did not. have. diplomatic. relations. with that Russian."

[3catwoman3]

43. Oh, very good.

Very good, indeed.

[Kablooie]

87. But it's just a big black lie, not important. Move along.

[kairos12]

6. Another traitorous Putin boot licker.

[lastlib]

78. Molotov-Ribbentrop.....

Whatever discussions they had could be a prelude to the kind of deal that Hitler and Stalin made (thru their respective foreign ministers, V. Molotov and Joachim von Ribbentrop) in Aug. 1939 that led to the partitioning of conquered Poland in the opening months of WWII. Given the Exxon-Mobil deal with Russia, and the Russian takeover of the Crimea, I can seriously see something like this happening.

Congress had better GET OFF THEIR ASSES and throw these basturds to the curb, before all end up in something we SERIOUSLY do not want to be messed up in!!

[riversedge]

7. "he did not disclose when asked about possible contacts..during Session's Confirmation hearing"!!

Whow--this is explosive!! IMHO!



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.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-spoke-twice-with-russian-ambassador-during-trumps-presidential-campaign-justice-officials-say/2017/03/01/77205eda-feac-11e6-99b4-9e613afeb09f_story.html?utm_term=.19ce726a193e

[riversedge]

8. BTW--coming up now on msnbc-this story!

[yallerdawg]

9. Just the lies alone are 'high crimes and misdemeanors!'

Let's get this party started!!!

[riversedge]

11. msnbc right now--talking of how Sessions was asked. (talking of WPost story)

[riversedge]

12. Good lord! Sessions LIED about his contacts with the Russians!!

[riversedge]

13. oh my--talking about how this Session story resembles the Flynn story!!

[riversedge]

15. msnbc replaying Chris Mathews from earlie--Chris saying Sessions did NOT tell the truth.

[riversedge]

16. Sessions is in BIG trouble!!

[riversedge]

17. Big doggies reporting on msnbc: Brian Williams Chris Matthews, Andrea Mitchell David Remick-the

New Yorker Reporter.

[yallerdawg]

56. Great updates! Thank you!

They're not going to get away with lying.

It's amazing how some people in public office think they are above the law.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

47. Call him Senator Ressions. nt

[Docreed2003]

14. Well well well...ole Jeff Davis sure is living up to his namesake!

[NewRedDawn]

27. Sure Is.

I despise that little elf neo-confederate Son of a bitch! The whole Putin Publicans are involved in either the Coup or the cover up. And I believe that snake Comey & The NY FBI with Ghouliani are involved deeply too!

[Docreed2003]

36. Indeed...I think you are correct

to your excellent superlatives there!

[nycbos]

18. There is nothing wrong with a United States Senator...

... speaking with a foreign ambassador. However what we know about Trump's ties to Russia this could be another major element of the Scandal. There absolutely needs to be a independent investigation.


Since loyalty is not a big part of Trump's group (Bannon etc) maybe Sessions is the type of person who would squeal for a deal if necessary.

[riversedge]

21. There IS something wrong with Session LYING!!

[nycbos]

23. Of course there is.

It a another layer to the Russia saga.

[Ccarmona]

34. Exactly

He lied to the Senate in his confirmation hearing, to Sen Franken and in writing to Sen Leahy.

[BeyondGeography]

26. He should have disclosed the conversations

That's pretty clear.

[nycbos]

28. No kidding

[Volaris]

71. If there's nothing wrong with it then he should have disclosed it when asked.

What was the Bush line?? If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear? If true, then the inverse is 'if you have nothing to fear you have nothing to hide'....

If Republicans are held to their own (admittedly bullshit) standard, Sessions has proved beyond doubt he should be fucking. terrified. right now

It's time for an independent investigation, since the justice dept can now be reasonably accused of bias.

[nycbos]

76. I agree.

[Pacifist Patriot]

95. I got what you were saying and agree...

Which is what makes the lying even more suspicious. If he had admitted to it and pointed out senators are free to meet with ambassadors, no problem (though still problematic optics given it was Russia). That he covered up something usually not noteworthy is massively noteworthy.

[nycbos]

96. Indeed.

If he said yes I spoke to the Russian ambassador. This is what we discussed. And then said I also spoke to the ambassadors from these countries if he spoke to any others then it wouldn't be an issue.


It is the fact he denied it that makes it a huge problem on top of everything else we know about Russia.


You think politicians will learn it is almost always the coverup that gets them in trouble. Not the act itself.

[mobeau69]

19. Bam!

God love the Post.

[riversedge]

25. Tweet: MSNBC is going for Trump and Sessions. Game's on. #TrumpPutin

☮ JacquiUpNorth
☮ Retweeted
Annie Woodard‏ @annie_woodard 3m3 minutes ago

MSNBC is going for Trump and Sessions. Game's on. #TrumpPutin
0 replies 1 retweet 1 like

[riversedge]

20. I am very curious what Sen. Franken will do/say-knowing now that Sessions LIED to him at his

hearing.

[mobeau69]

63. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/321930-sessions-spoke-with-russian-ambassador-durin

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), who asked Sessions about Russia connections during his confirmation hearings, said he was "troubled" by the report.

“If it’s true that Attorney General Sessions met with the Russian ambassador in the midst of the campaign, then I am very troubled that his response to my questioning during his confirmation hearing was, at best, misleading,” Franken told the Washington Post in a statement on Wednesday.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/321930-sessions-spoke-with-russian-ambassador-durin

[NewRedDawn]

69. No Al

He Fucking Lied coldly & proudly in your face!

[Zo Zig]

22. The dead ambassador to russia?

WTF. This is utter bullshit, the repigs are going to own this shit. Scum.

[nycbos]

35. Not that guy.

The guy who died was the ambassador to the UN. This was Russia's ambassador to the United States

[Zo Zig]

51. My bad, thanks.

NT

[nycbos]

52. I'd check his body with a geiger counter though.

[Zo Zig]

73. Here a dead russian, there a dead...

Posion, Greatest Hits. Great hair metal.

[INdemo]

24. I believe that up to date fresh info like this is exactly why DU

was hacked on election night..and yes I believe the Republicans stole the damn thing.

[Freethinker65]

29. Lock them (the entire GOP enablers) up

[C_U_L8R]

31. Was Sessions under oath

for the confirmation hearings (when he lied, twice)???

[riversedge]

33. Saw a photo with his hand raised. just now on msnbc.

[C_U_L8R]

41. Then he's toast.

Done. Over.

[mobeau69]

44. I think that's SOP

Not sure, but it may not even be required to make lying to a Senate hearing to be a crime. Hell, it's illegal to lie to your local police doing an investigation. No oath required.

[OliverQ]

74. Yes he was

Senator Franken just made a statement saying he was under oath. You can't have someone committing perjury in charge of the DoJ.

[FailureToCommunicate]

81. Well the Trump administration certain could!

Belated Welcome to DU by the way!

[riversedge]

32. BREAKING NEWS Jeff Session BLANTANTLY LIED about Contacts during his confirmation hearing

Sessions need to go down just like Flynn did!



#CalExit NaphiSoc‏ @NaphiSoc 3m3 minutes ago

BREAKING NEWS

Jeff Session BLANTANTLY LIED about Contacts during his confirmation hearing

#TrumpPutin
#TrumpRussia

Link to tweet

[riversedge]

37. Then there was this warning from @MalcolmNance on Russian Active measures in July 2016 on @hardball

TAPSTRI CYBER-MEDIA‏ @TAPSTRIMEDIA 25m25 minutes ago

Then there was this warning from @MalcolmNance on Russian Active measures in July 2016 on @hardball @MSNBC #trumpputin

Link to tweet

[Blue Idaho]

38. Jefferson Beauregard Sessions

Is a liar and a traitor. He has no business running the Justice Department, he should be prosecuted by them.

[Chasstev365]

39. He committed perjury and is the nation's top law enforcement official?

OMFG: This is now officially a Banana Republic!

[riversedge]

54. THIS IS A HISTORIC SCANDAL. Watergate is small fry compared to a hostile power tipping our election

This is very serious. very serious.






Peter Daou‏Verified account @peterdaou 9m9 minutes ago

1. TRUMP/RUSSIA THREAD. Let's cut through all the static and spin on Trump and Russia. It's actually very simple. And unprecedented. (1/12)
2 replies 79 retweets 121 likes
8 more replies



Peter Daou‏Verified account @peterdaou 5m5 minutes ago

10. TRUMP ALWAYS DEFENDS PUTIN. The entire political world is baffled by Trump's categorical refusal to say anything negative about Putin.
1 reply 5 retweets 12 likes
Peter Daou‏Verified account @peterdaou 5m5 minutes ago

11. THIS IS A HISTORIC SCANDAL. Watergate is small fry compared to a hostile power tipping our election (possibly working with Team Trump).

[dalton99a]

80. Bingo.

[YOHABLO]

40. Sessions should resign. He lied. Why are we letting this go?

[dhill926]

53. we're not...

but I'm sure the repubs will circle the wagons and stonewall this like everything else. fuckers...

[riversedge]

42. @jeffsessions HAS to "recuse" himself, THIS IS "A #conflict OF Interest!.."

A fitting poster for lying sleezeball Session!


Tweet
OdD BaLL'z...✌‏ @ericsean467 8m8 minutes ago

@TAPSTRIMEDIA @CourtneySwans20 @MalcolmNance @hardball @MSNBC
@jeffsessions HAS to "recuse" himself, THIS IS "A #conflict OF Interest!.."

Link to tweet

[bucolic_frolic]

45. Someday they'll take that oily little rat and

LOCK HIM UP!

[NCjack]

46. As a senator, he probably would have

walked away without being damaged. But, he testified that he had no contact in this Senate hearing. Hopefully, the FBI can charge him for false testimony.

[Leghorn21]

49. No no, Jack! It's FAKE TESTIMONY, see? Lied under oath! Lied under oath! I swear to God, i'm

going to tattoo those words on my forehead tomorrow, LIED UNDER OATH!!

[riversedge]

67. I will not hold my breath.

[NCjack]

77. The Repuke senators will cover for him. Maybe it will be

worth a % point in the 2018 elections.

[riversedge]

48. Adam Schiff, is now calling on Sessions to recuse himself if reports are true.

Kyle Griffin‏Verified account @kylegriffin1 3m3 minutes ago

Ranking Dem on House Intel Cmte, Adam Schiff, is now calling on Sessions to recuse himself if reports are true.

Link to tweet

[Tanuki]

50. Joy Reid pointed out something

https://mobile.twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/837136442526744582
"Another reminder: Jefferson Sessions was the vehicle that creepy anti-immigrant zealot Stephen Miller AND Carter Page rode to Trumpville."

[riversedge]

62. Good reminder. Thanks for posting.

[riversedge]

65. @JoyAnnReid Didn't realize Carter was Sessions recommended. Ddid you see this interview of him w Cha

28m
The Joss Group‏ @thejossgroup
@JoyAnnReid you have read this before but names coming out now
How Did a Russian Spy Get Elected President of the United States?mollyjossoutloud.wordpress.com
27m


Drogon‏ @drogon_dracarys
@JoyAnnReid Didn't realize Carter was Sessions recommended. Ddid you see this interview of him w Channel 4 in UK?
Trump: Carter Page interviewchannel4.com
25m
https://www.channel4.com/news/trump-carter-page-interview


Joy Reid‏ @JoyAnnReid
Flashback: @juliaioffe went on an expedition to find Carter Page, who no one in Trumpworld would admit even knowing: (link: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/09/the-mystery-of-trumps-man-in-moscow-214283) politico.com/magazine

[mobeau69]

55. This is some big shit.

A Sessions spokeswoman said Sessions was acting as a member of the Armed Services Committee, not as a Trump surrogate, when he spoke with the ambassador, and was not trying to mislead fellow senators when he said during his confirmation hearing that he had not had contacts with Moscow.

"Not trying to mislead" - So he admits he mislead them but now tries to excuse it by saying he wan't "trying" to. That dog won't hunt IMO.

[NewRedDawn]

60. BYE BYE Rebel Elf

How about a little waterboard Jeffie to get the truth out of you. You know the "enhanced" interogations you are trying to bring back.

[BeyondGeography]

66. "I did not have communications with the Russians."

Not misleading in the least.

[muriel_volestrangler]

89. No other Armed Services Committee member talked to the Russians

The Washington Post contacted all 26 members of the 2016 Senate Armed Services Committee to see whether any lawmakers besides Sessions met with Kislyak in 2016. Of the 20 lawmakers who responded, every senator, including Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.), said they did not meet with the Russian ambassador last year. The other lawmakers on the panel did not respond as of Wednesday evening.

“Members of the committee have not been beating a path to Kislyak’s door,” a senior Senate Armed Services Committee staffer said, citing tensions in relations with Moscow. Besides Sessions, the staffer added, “There haven’t been a ton of members who are looking to meet with Kislyak for their committee duties.”

A special investigator is needed; Sessions must recuse himself from all investigations related to the Trump politburoadministration, and he really ought to resign.

[BeyondGeography]

98. Yes...thanks for adding this

What was the meeting about, Jeff? And if it was Committee business, which Senator(s) did you discuss it with? You'd think they would have been all ears since no one else met with Ambassador...

[elfin]

57. Wonder if Franken knew he did it when he asked the question

Or if Al had the knowledge from a "leaker" to him or from intel given to him and other senators with the ground rule that it was not to be public. Or did he just intuit it?

[Native]

93. It was one of the questions Sessions had to answer on a written questionnaire prior 2 the hearing

In January, Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) asked Sessions for answers to written questions. “Several of the President-elect’s nominees or senior advisers have Russian ties. Have you been in contact with anyone connected to any part of the Russian government about the 2016 election, either before or after election day?” Leahy wrote.

[Marie Marie]

58. Recuse my ass. He should resign.

When will lying under oath ever mean anything? I am so tired of being expected to accept this crap as nothing more than "business as usual - they all do it". Perjury is a punishable offense - at least for the average Joe Citizen. This has got to stop being seen as the norm for Politicians, Government Officials and even CEO's. This goes for both Democrats and Republicans - they are not above the law. ENOUGH!!

[riversedge]

59. Welp, the afterglow of the joint address is officially gone....

Fine by me!!



Emily C. Singer‏Verified account @CahnEmily

Welp, the afterglow of the joint address is officially gone.

Link to tweet

Replies:


Sabrina Irfan‏ @IrfanSabrina 52m52 minutes ago

@CahnEmily Finally! Back to the real story: RUSSIA.
0 replies 0 retweets 9 likes




Bernadette North‏ @notbern 58m58 minutes ago

@CahnEmily It's about time!
0 replies 0 retweets 1 like

[lucca18]

61. Enough is enough! I want answers now.

It seem as if almost everyone in the Trump administration is connected to Russia .
We need an independent thorough investigation.

[mobeau69]

64. The Russian Amb is considered to be Russia's top spy in DC.

Everybody in DC knows this.

[mobeau69]

68. (R) Margret Hoover on CNN just now.

"Recusal is the bare minimum".

[Zorro]

70. Lock up that KKKeebler elf!

[Princess Turandot]

72. In 1999, this racist p.o.s. voted to convict WJC of perjury and remove him from office...

for lying about a blow job.

Meanwhile, he lied while testifying to the Senate, on a matter of actual substance.

[Cryptoad]

75. Was Seesion under Oathe when,,,

Senator Franken was questioning him about this? If He lied under oathe he has committed felony perjury.

[GoCubsGo]

79. I'm betting it's just the tip of the ice berg. n/t

[bluecollar2]

82. BENGHAZI !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Emails!!!!!!!!!...n/t

[ancianita]

83. So will it be recusal, resignation or impeachment? What will DC's lawyer power produce?

No Attorney General should be allowed to head the DOJ when he has committed perjury before Congress.

Such lawbreaking breaks the foundation of our justice system.

[wiggs]

84. Man...patribotics was all over Sessions weeks ago. Sessions has Russian ties

...check out the whole series by Mensch. So many potential problems...if half are true the administration is screwed.

https://patribotics.wordpress.com/2017/02/07/jeff-sessions-attorney-general-suspect/

[nikibatts]

85. Was it only twice? Were there other Russians or Russian-connected contacts?

[Kablooie]

86. This can't be! Sessions said there wasn't any evidence of Trump staff contacting Russians.

So all evidence to the contrary, nothing to see here, move along.


Sheesh.

When oh when will there be enough evidence to force a real investigation?

[EarthFirst]

88. I won't hold my breath... nt

[Tatiana]

90. Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them

He's going to dig in his heels, but I believe where there is smoke, there's fire.

He will probably be forced to resign.

[OKNancy]

91. kick

[BumRushDaShow]

92. This goes so deep that it will become a "too big to fail (or prosecute)" scenario

Meaning that so many are involved at the highest levels of the current Executive and Legislative branches (which was probably done on purpose) that they will be able to get away with it (typical Wall Street tactic).

[Native]

94. I wonder if there were phone calls too, that were recorded like in Flynn's case.

[Blue_Tires]

97. He also lied about not being a racist, cross-burning piece of shit

[Pantagruel]

99. Not only that!

Dan Pfeiffer ✔ @danpfeiffer
The Russian Ambassador at the GOP Convention at the exact moment Trump adopts the most pro-Russia platform in history is really something
Follow
Matthew Yglesias ✔ @mattyglesias
@danpfeiffer And supposedly nobody from the campaign even talked him about it! Kind of lazy.
7:28 AM - 2 Mar 2017 · Washington, DC

[IronLionZion]

100. Traitors, all of them

They should all be fired and thrown in Leavenworth