Justice spokeswoman questions report of Sessions' exchange with Russian officials

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico




By CRISTIANO LIMA 07/21/2017 09:48 PM EDT

A Justice Department spokeswoman on Friday questioned the credibility of a report that Attorney General Jeff Sessions discussed campaign-related topics with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources, reported on Friday that Kislyak had told his supervisors in Russian that he and Sessions had talked about campaign-related topics important to the Kremlin during the 2016 presidential race. The alleged exchange would appear contradict sworn testimony by Sessions.

"Obviously I can't comment on the reliability of what anonymous sources describe in a wholly uncorroborated intelligence intercept that the Washington Post has not seen and that has not been provided to me," Justice Department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said.

Isgur Flores added that Sessions stood by testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee last month when he stated he "never met with or had any conversations with any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election."


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/21/justice-spokeswoman-questions-sessions-report-240827

[AJT]

1. I would hope that WaPo has learned that 45 and his gang would plant false stories

to discredit them and have ironclad evidence to support the story.

[emulatorloo]

4. As Rachel pointed out, spokesperson denied a charge that was not made in the article

Intercepts were that Kislyak told his superiors that he and Sessions talked about what Trump's policies towards Russia would be would be

The article/intercepts are not about 'discussing Interference in the election.'

So it is a non-denial denial. If we are to accuse anybody of "falseness" it would be Sessions spokesperson, who is trying to deflect from Sessions lie that he never talked to a Russian official about campaign matters.

[rickford66]

2. She "questioned the credibility of a report" and

"can't comment on the reliability of what anonymous sources" !!!! Why is she commenting then ??

[Marcuse]

3. That's not even a non denial denial.

[mr_lebowski]

5. They're trying to re-frame the story ... make us think that the allegation is different ...

I.E. turn the allegation into something that is probably not true ... just so they can shriek 'fake news'!

But not even Sessions (probably) is stupid enough to discuss the actual Russian interference with Kislyak. I kinda doubt Sessions even knew about it, actually ... he is someone the main actors would definitely have sought to keep from him, after all he was a sitting Senator and their choice for AG.

What probably IS true, otoh ... is the allegation that's in the actual news story. And even w/o discussing 'interference', it still means he committed perjury by lying to Congress under oath.