Sessions to respond in writing to questions over Russia contacts: DOJ

[Rollo]

Source: Reuters

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will reply in writing to Senate Democrats' questions about his meetings with Russia's ambassador last year, the Justice Department said on Friday after a top Republican denied Democrats' request for a public hearing.

Nine Democratic senators sent a letter earlier Friday asking Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley to call Sessions before his panel to explain his failure until this week to disclose his contacts with the Russian ambassador during the 2016 presidential campaign.

The letter came a day after Sessions, the country's top justice official and a key ally of Republican President Donald Trump, removed himself from any investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the election.

Grassley replied that he had no plans for a hearing.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-idUSKBN16A2F4

[guillaumeb]

1. Given that Sessions is already revealed as a liar,

one assumes this is an attempt to get him on record for purposes of impeachment.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. OK, Grassley better watch before he becomes complicit too in the grand GOP coverup. . . nt

[Scruffy1]

12. Assly is already guilty of obstructing justice, just like the rest of them.

They all knew what was going on and preferred it to losing an election. But i'm kinda hoping they stall long enough to bring them all down. this ain't 1972, when there were a few republicans with some principles. Now I have to assume they are allbought off or blackmailed.

[NanceGreggs]

3. So after flunking the oral exam ...

... due to being caught cheating, he wants a do-over with a written? He now wants an at-home test, where he will swear under oath that he wrote it all by himself, with no help from mom or dad, and no "Googling" the answers?

[bettyellen]

5. He's agreed to be questioned again on Monday.

[NanceGreggs]

6. Ah, the weekend cram! n/t

[bettyellen]

7. You know it! But Franken will be all over this. The timeline of events around the meeting at RNC is

Too damned interesting not to come up.

[NanceGreggs]

9. Jeffie's too dumb to realize ...

... that while he's memorizing the answers, Franken is coming up with new questions - more precise questions, with absolutely no ambiguity and no wiggle-room.

[Scruffy1]

14. I don't consider myself dumb, but I would never get into a match of wits with Al.

I got to know his character pretty well when he was running for the Senate. Once he tackles something he will see it through and do whatever it takes. He is smart, determined and disciplined. These old hacks have had it soft all their lives. Taking part in virtually uncontested elections and doddering around the senate pretending to do stuff. should be interesting. Besides which, recusing himself is pointless since he controls the Department of Justice and would still have complete control over who would do any investigating and how much staff and money they have. I'm not buying any of it. Sooner or later someone on the inside is going to start talking, either because of fear or spite. There's a lot more to this story than the Russian angle.

[Rollo]

20. I may be one of the few...

Who read Al Franken's book, "Why Not Me?" about his fantasy of becoming president. Written long before he ran for Senate, it was clever and funny. Unfortunately the man he really wanted for that position, Paul Wellstone, died in a plane accident.

I can't wait for the Dems to take back power in the Senate and Franken to head up a major committee. As it is we'll have to settle for whatever time the Senate rules afford him to speak his mind.

[ancianita]

19. Let's hope. I think his fire's lit.

[elmac]

4. So, if I commit treason

I can wright in my answers to?

[mpcamb]

10. That lowlife Sessions had no plan to recuse himself till He was caught lying to Congress.

He's a proven liar. No way he can lead a government agency.
He has no credibility.

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. written, oral - nothing that emerges from any of them is worth shit. Assume lies...period.

and what's worst is that it seems to no longer matter.

[Dopers_Greed]

11. Since Trump can't read...

...maybe he won't know that Sessions is flipping on him.

[George II]

13. A day late and a dollar short.....(ahem) with Sessions it's a dollar VERY "short" (sorry!)

[NurseJackie]

21. Ha!! :-D

[NurseJackie]

22. Leslie Jordan should portray him on Saturday Night Live ... it would be perfect!

[NurseJackie]

15. Responding by writing allows him to carefully construct his answer...

... it can be cleverly parsed and subjected to review so that the words meet the minimal legal requirement of providing an answer while simultaneously being broad enough and vague enough that they can be denied or re-interpreted at a later date. It also eliminates the possibility of having to respond to follow-up questions.

[triron]

16. precisely

[ancianita]

17. Some post-oath written amendment doesn't change the under-oath statement.

[Valhallakey]

18. First he needs to find out if there are recordings right after his meeting

Did the R Ambassador call back to R with a report of the meeting… will help him shape his answers.