Burr Dodges On Whether Comey Briefed Senators On Sessions-Russia Contact

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo


By ESME CRIBB Published MARCH 2, 2017, 12:32 PM EDT

Tierney Sneed contributed reporting.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) on Thursday dodged questions on whether FBI Director James Comey briefed members of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Attorney General Jeff Session's contact with Russia's ambassador to the United States before the election.

"Are you suggesting you've got something that says that Comey knew?" Burr said. "I don't get into discussions we have with the director of the FBI." Burr said it would be "highly unusual" for the FBI to "look into senators' private meetings on the Hill with anybody."

Sessions denied during his confirmation hearing in January that he had "communications with Russians." On Thursday, however, Sessions' spokeswoman confirmed that Sessions met twice with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak before the election.

Burr, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, asserted in January that he would not investigate advisers to Trump’s campaign.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/richard-burr-dodges-on-comey-briefing-sessions-senate-intelligence-committee

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Graham: Sessions Should Recuse From Potential Campaign Investigations

By MATT SHUHAM Published MARCH 2, 2017, 12:43 PM EDT

Tierney Sneed contributed reporting.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said Thursday that Attorney General Jeff Sessions ought to recuse himself from any potential investigations based on contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia if evidence suggests a possible criminal prosecution, "because of (Sessions') contacts with the campaign."

“If there is a investigation at the FBI of Trump, Russia campaign activities, I want to know about it. I’m tired of reading about it in the paper,” Graham told reporters. “The FBI needs to let us know whether there is or there isn’t. If there’s not one, they need to come forward and say so. If there is one, we need to step aside and let it take its natural course.”

“If – if – there ever becomes enough evidence to suggest prosecution, or possible criminal prosecution of anybody based on the contacts, then somebody other than Attorney General Sessions should make that decision, because of his contacts with the campaign.”

Graham said, though, that the Washington Post’s revelations that Sessions had met with the Russian ambassador didn’t mean that he had mislead the Senate Judiciary Committee when he told them he had no contact during the campaign.

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/lindsey-graham-sessions-should-recuse

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Collins: Sessions Should Recuse Himself From DOJ's Investigation

By MATT SHUHAM Published MARCH 2, 2017, 1:29 PM EDT

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) called for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from the Department of Justice’s investigation, presumably into possible ties between Trump campaign officials and Russian nationals during the 2016 campaign.

The senator's statement followed revelations that Sessions met twice with the Russian ambassador to the United States during the campaign.

“Attorney General Sessions should recuse himself to ensure public confidence in the Justice Department's investigation,” Collins said in a statement, which noted “reports that Attorney General Sessions spoke twice with the Russian ambassador last year.”

“He should also clarify his statements to the Judiciary Committee with respect to his communications with the Russian Ambassador,” Collins said.

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/collins-sessions-should-recuse-department-of-justice-investigation

[turbinetree]

1. Apparently your "gang" there Burr like's to get involved with private meetings

"Are you suggesting you've got something that says that Comey knew?" Burr said. "I don't get into discussions we have with the director of the FBI." Burr said it would be "highly unusual" for the FBI to "look into senators' private meetings on the Hill with anybody."

And has for Susan Collins to say that Sessions should just "recuse" himself, really, give him the hand slap on wrist treatment, and say don't do this "again", not happening there Senator, you voted to "confirm this jerk, you own him and he owns you

Lets go back and see this moment of your hypocrisy

[littlemissmartypants]

2. Crooked snake. Apologies to all reptiles.

I hate him and it's a very healthy hate.

The hours, dollars and miles I spent on the Deborah Ross campaign trying to defeat him were all well worth it.

I wore a reflective vest and hat on many major highway intersections in my great state of North Carolina putting out signs for Deborah. I would have been content to die trying to see him go down. We got close. It was thrilling to see him worried about his cushy masquerade.

I'm looking forward to laughing at his funeral.

Thank you for the post, DonViejo.

[mpcamb]

4. "Crooked as a snake with a bellyache" my Scottish friend said about Nixon over 5 1/2 decades ago.

He'd built walls for the Astor estate in our town back in the '20's. An immigrant with a strong back and hands and a notion of how to manage a crew. I still miss the old fella. Sorry for the tangent tho. Still, good to remember him.

[littlemissmartypants]

5. Loss is hard. But I'm happy we connected.

Thank you for sharing that memory, mpcamb. Idiomatic sayings are one of my favorite things, by the way.

[kimbutgar]

3. Sessions has to resign; he is damaged goods

More stuff is coming.