WATCH: Jeff Sessions Calls Claim He Colluded With Russia ‘An Appalling and Detestable Lie’
Attorney General Feigns Outrage
Under oath Attorney General Jeff Sessions defiantly and with a tone of outrage told the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee he has not committed perjury nor did he have any undisclosed meetings with Russian officials. He also called any claim he colluded with Russia “an appalling and detestable lie.”
Sessions made his remarks as part of his opening statement just after Tuesday afternoon’s hearing commenced. As the Chairman and the Ranking Member made their opening statements, Sessions appeared nervous and could be seen squirming.
This opening statement is not going well if you were hoping for clarity. #SessionsHearing
— Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) June 13, 2017
Sessions is really doing the insulted Southern Gentleman thing.
— Cheryl Rofer (@CherylRofer) June 13, 2017
“The suggestion that I participated in any collusion, that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government to hurt this country, which I have served with honor for 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our Democratic process is an appalling and detestable lie,” Sessions, attempting an effort to appear outraged, told the Committee.
“The suggestion that I participated in collusion [with Russia]…is an appalling and detestable lie,” Sessions says: https://t.co/iyqKhRuBYt pic.twitter.com/uEK7MSEhR7
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 13, 2017
Sessions also denied meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at the Mayflower Hotel, as some media reports suggested.
“I did not have any private meetings nor do I recall any conversations with any Russian officials at the Mayflower Hotel,†Sessions said, which would include Russian Ambassador Kislyak. “If any brief interaction occurred in passing with the Russian ambassador during that reception, I do not remember it,†he added.
ICYMI: Here is an image from The Mayflower Hotel event with Kislyak in the front row. #SessionsHearing pic.twitter.com/yiy3n6GF1q
— Girls Really Rule. (@girlsreallyrule) June 13, 2017
But he insisted during the two meetings he did hold with Russian officials, “certainly not one thing happened that was improper.”
Sessions: “So I readily acknowledge these two meetings and certainly not one thing happened that was improper in any one of those meetings.” pic.twitter.com/zfhV4vdHwF
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 13, 2017
Stunningly, Sessions claimed that even though he did not meet with Kislyak at the Mayflower Hotel, he was there as an “interested person,” and tried to assure the committee if he did meet with Kislyak, it was totally fine.Â
BURR: Were you at the Mayflower as a U.S. senator or as a surrogate of the campaign?
SESSIONS: “I came there as an interested person.†pic.twitter.com/MuwT6lenR0
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 13, 2017
Sessions on meeting Russian ambassador at Mayflower hotel: “I would have gladly reported it…if I remembered it, or if it actually occurred…”
— Matt Viser (@mviser) June 13, 2017
“I would have gladly reported” meeting Kislyak at the Mayflower Hotel “if I remembered it, or if it actually occurred,” he stated.
It occurred. https://t.co/DBwCSil0OK https://t.co/1hb3YU1vFU
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) June 13, 2017
Minutes later:
FLAG: Sessions, seemingly to contradict earlier testimony, now it’s “conceivable” that he had a conversation with Kislayk at the Mayflower. pic.twitter.com/ngga9GzohY
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 13, 2017
Some responses via Twitter:
In Attorney General Sessions’s mind, he did nothing wrong by failing to disclose Russian meetings or being involved with Comey firing. pic.twitter.com/WAC9yddvzU
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) June 13, 2017
Jeff Sessions wants you to know that he doesn’t remember meeting with the Russians but if he did it was totally fine. Huh? #SessionsHearing
— Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) June 13, 2017
What is the medical term for the condition that causes otherwise healthy people to forget their encounters with Russians, but no one else?
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) June 13, 2017
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