Ok, I’ll liveblog SOME of Sessions hearing before the Senate Intel Committee, but again, I expect he’ll talk about what he wants to talk about and then filibuster (or rely on executive privilege) when trapped in a corner.
2:56 pm
Sessions has no recollection of meeting, talking to Russian ambassador or other Russian official at the Mayflower hotel.
Here’s a notable Getty pic from the April 27, 2016 Mayflower Hotel event—Kislyak & Sessions both named in the official caption pic.twitter.com/epubUUfkKc
— Kerry Eleveld (@kerryeleveld) June 1, 2017
(Kislyak must be the gray-haired guy on the right)
Never discussed anything with any foreign agent about any campaign ever.
Sessions says he was victim of Franken’s “rambling question” after six hours of testimony. Getting a little faux outraged in his opening statement here. (What Sessions is leaving out is that AFTER his hearing answer to Franken, he also left it out of written answers, which staff vet carefully.)
Sessions says it’s “absurd” to say his recusal should have kept him from participating in the Comey firing. He’s claiming he can narrow his stated recusal *from* campaign matters to *only* the Trump campaign.
Here are Sessions’s prepared remarks explaining why he took part in the process of firing Comey despite his recusal from the Russia probe. pic.twitter.com/zPYrI8qoqj
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) June 13, 2017
Sessions appears to stand by his earlier assertion — that he recommended firing Comey due to his handling of Hillary email investigation.
Sessions pretty much confirms Comey’s conversation with Sessions about problems with the White House (Trump) talking directly to Comey about Russia. Except…
Sessions contradicted this passage from Comey testimony, saying he did, in fact, reply: https://t.co/fsThXkMYZY pic.twitter.com/tFwFvzw4sm
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) June 13, 2017
And now he’s talking about drugs and crime and gangs. Talking a lot about it. His favorite subject.
Aaaaaand that’s the gist of his statement. I don’t doubt most of it. In fact, I don’t think Sessions was ever involved in any collusion (even though his inability to remember meetings with Russians is… uh…. troubling).
I’ll update if he says anything different under questioning, but I suspect this is all we will get out of him.
Sessions: “I have confidence in Mr. Mueller.”
— Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff) June 13, 2017
Sessions will not talk about conversations with President — NOT based on executive privilege but based on long-standing Department of Justice “policy”.
As Sessions testifies, RNC sends oppo attacking Comey: “Another hearing, another example of former FBI Director Comey not being honest.”
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) June 13, 2017
Rubio asks Sessions if he “lingered” as Comey testified when Trump asked to talk to the FBI director. Confirms he was among last to leave
— Holly Bailey (@hollybdc) June 13, 2017
Rubio to Sessions: Why did you leave Comey alone with the president?
Session: “I didn’t seem to me to be a problem”
— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) June 13, 2017
“PROBABLY So”?!? The answer is YES. https://t.co/r7ODl46PFF
— Ken Ashford (@KenAshford) June 13, 2017
Wyden tells Sessions this is about an attack on US democratic institutions. “Stonewalling of any kind is unacceptable.”
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) June 13, 2017
There’s your headline; “I am not stonewalling”
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) June 13, 2017
Sessions vs. Wyden right now. Hot hot hot. 🔥
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) June 13, 2017
I think this is a good summary so far:
Sessions is strongest on defense about Russia collusion/Kislyak, weakest trying to explain WH/DOJ convoluted story about Comey firing.
— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) June 13, 2017
Sessions is following historical precedent of Nixon Atty General Mitchell prior to his conviction for perjury, conspiracy, and obstruction.
— Frank Rich (@frankrichny) June 13, 2017
He did. Boente never got back to him. https://t.co/7W646QGgdA https://t.co/tULG0ZDZCB
— Eric Geller (@ericgeller) June 13, 2017
Sessions invokes the “right” not to respond to a question because the president might at some point in the future invoke exec privilege.
— Stuart Rothenberg (@StuPolitics) June 13, 2017
Wait…. that’s different from “longstanding DOJ policy”. I mean, it’s bullshit too, but it’s also different.
Sen. King is *exactly* right here: Sessions is hiding behind executive privilege, even though he says he can't invoke it and Trump has not.
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) June 13, 2017
The attorney general of the United States just said he's never been briefed on Russian interference in the 2016 election
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) June 13, 2017
Oh my God. That’s disconcerting. As is this:
Sessions: candidate Trump never expressed any concern about Russian hacking of the election
— Gabriel Snyder (@gabrielsnyder) June 13, 2017
"Do you like spy fiction?"
It's all just a joke to Tom Cotton.
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) June 13, 2017
This is a novel argument. Cotton is saying that unless collusion with Russia looks like it does in the movies it couldn't have happened.
— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) June 13, 2017
Tom Cotton is really reprehensible.
Kamala Harris is up. She wants to ask questions and he wants to stall and take long answers. She wants documents.
"I'm not able to be rushed this fast. It makes me nervous," Jeff Sessions says under questioning by Sen. Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor
— Dan Merica (@danmericaCNN) June 13, 2017
Harris is effectively showing that the "DOJ policy" Sessions cites for not talking about Trump is made up, not written down, as he claimed.
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) June 13, 2017
Kamala Harris vs. Jeff Sessions. Fireworks. https://t.co/iHnA64R5QP
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) June 13, 2017
And the Chair admonishes her.
What a surprise that the only person told to shut up is female.
— Aimee Mann (@aimeemann) June 13, 2017
Yup.