Sessions Clarifies Russia Testimony to Senate Committee

Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein, thrust into the contentious debate over Russian involvement in last year’s election, is set to face a litany of questions at his confirmation hearing Tuesday over how he would oversee the investigation of those allegations. “I’ve been refusing to say that he lied. He needs to come back”, Franken added.

Asked if he should quit or recuse himself from the Russian Federation investigation, he said: “I have said whenever it’s appropriate, I will recuse myself”.

The Democrat Senators wanted to make sure Sessions will recuse himself from all investigations involving President Trump and Russian Federation, not just those limited to the campaign period, but also the post campaign transition period and post inauguration. “It was a gotcha question”, Grassley said.

Many congressional Democrats, as a result, say Sessions’ recusal isn’t enough to separate the Trump administration and campaign from the investigation.

The idea that Kislyak reached out to Sessions because he was a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee is negated by the fact that the ambassador did not meet with most of the other members previous year. If confirmed, Rosenstein would be the point person on the election interference investigation.

The nominee at hand was Rod Rosenstein, the Maryland U.S. attorney who has been tapped to be Sessions’ top deputy.

No, Franken does not specifically ask if Sessions spoke with the Russians – Sessions volunteers the response! When she asked him whether he would appoint a special prosecutor, he responded that Obama Attorney General Loretta Lynch had been faced with a question on appointing a special prosecutor, and she rejected the request.

“He may well decide to appoint a special prosecutor – and if he does, it won’t be because a senator demanded it during a confirmation hearing”, said former DOJ attorney Jason Weinstein, who worked with Rosenstein during the Bush and Obama administrations.

Rosenstein, a career prosecutor, now serves as the USA attorney for the District of Maryland. Senators on both sides of the aisle were quick to praise his credentials and his fairness. He was later asked in a written question from Sen. “This is about more than one individual”. It would be because he concludes it’s the right thing to do for the Department and for the public’s confidence in the integrity of the investigation. Sessions should appoint a special counsel capable of conducting a thorough and unbiased inquiry into all of the contacts between Trump and his associates and Russian Federation – including Sessions’.

During his senate confirmation hearing in January, Sessions claimed to have no contact with the Russians. “I don’t know the details, but everyone in this room knows I’m on the side of the USA”, Rosenstein replied.

“I appreciate that some take the view that this was a false comment”.

Noting Rosenstein’s reputation among Democrats and Republicans alike, Van Hollen said: “I think everybody, regardless of political party, believes that he is somebody who pursues justice”. Since Sessions has recused himself from any Russia-related investigation, Rosenstein would be the official who would have to make any decisions about potential prosecutions. But to the best of his knowledge, he said, “I don’t recall any such meetings”.

But Rosenstein repeatedly demurred on whether he would appoint a special counsel.

“My answer was correct”, Sessions wrote in a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee that he used to further explain his testimony. Sessions was not asked about official meetings.