REPORT: Contrary to Statements Sessions Discussed Campaign With Russian Ambassador, Intelligence Intercepts Show
Kislyak Said ‘He Discussed Campaign-Related Matters, Including Policy Issues Important to Moscow, With Jeff Sessions’
Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak told his superiors that he discussed the Trump campaign with then-Senator Jeff Sessions, according to U.S. intelligence intercepts, and contrary to Sessions’ public statements and even sworn testimony. Â
According to a bombshell Friday night report by The Washington Post, Kislyak said “he discussed campaign-related matters, including policy issues important to Moscow, with Jeff Sessions during the 2016 presidential race, contrary to public assertions by the embattled attorney general.”Â
JUST IN: Sessions discussed Trump campaign matters with Russian ambassador, US intel intercepts show. (Via WaPo) https://t.co/hSMOarNyEf
— Hardball (@hardball) July 21, 2017
The Post cites “current and former U.S. officials.”
Two conversations “were intercepted by U.S. spy agencies, which monitor the communications of senior Russian officials both in the United States and in Russia. Sessions initially failed to disclose his contacts with Kislyak and then said that the meetings were not about the Trump campaign.”
One U.S. official said that Sessions — who testified that he has no recollection of an April encounter — has provided “misleading†statements that are “contradicted by other evidence.†A former official said that the intelligence indicates that Sessions and Kislyak had “substantive†discussions on matters including Trump’s positions on Russia-related issues and prospects for U.S.-Russia relations in a Trump administration.
The Post notes that U.S. intelligence officials “acknowledged that the Russian ambassador could have mischaracterized or exaggerated the nature of his interactions.”
But U.S. officials with regular access to Russian intelligence reports say Kislyak — whose tenure as ambassador to the United States ended recently — has a reputation for accurately relaying details about his interactions with officials in Washington.
If Kislyak account is accurate, yet another indication Sessions committed perjury https://t.co/hQzJbqr3uE
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) July 21, 2017
Sessions testified under oath he did not have conversations with the Russians:
Jeff Sessions lying under oath. Also known as the crime of perjury & done to conceal treasonous meetings with Russia pic.twitter.com/SBAtKSUJts
— RiotWomenn (@riotwomennn) July 21, 2017
The Attorney General has denied lying:
Now we know what the problematic recusal issues Comey was referring to that Sessions feigned indigence over when questioned by @RonWyden. pic.twitter.com/W8TwxNk7Kc
— This Is Not Normal (@NetworkJunkyz) July 21, 2017
On social media some believe the Trump administration leaked the news to force Sessions to resign. Trump blasted his attorney general in a New York Times interview Wednesday, and many in the White House were shocked Sessions did not resign the following morning.Â
Irresistible question: could Trump team have leaked the kislyak intercepts to push Sessions out after he failed to resign yesterday? https://t.co/azUnBSJL5j
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) July 21, 2017
Well, here’s Trump’s excuse to fire Sessions and get a stooge successor who’ll fire Mueller https://t.co/629qGse43r
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) July 21, 2017
Every GOP figure I’ve spoken to at #AspenSecurity assumes Trump leaked this to force Sessions out. “Certainly not a Mueller leak,” one said. https://t.co/5WjsCLkQks
— Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg) July 21, 2017
In light of WaPo bombshell, this from the NYT Trump interview (throwing Sessions under the bus) takes on new meaning https://t.co/gjnLdCL7Aj pic.twitter.com/CvVTuURu1o
— Colin Kahl (@ColinKahl) July 21, 2017
A Republican source on seeing the story wondered aloud if Trump WH purposely confirmed the story to get at Sessions. https://t.co/L6nXVnStXM
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) July 21, 2017
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