WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi says brand new Attorney General Jeff Sessions is a liar and should quit his new gig after lying about talking to the Russians during President Donald Trump’s successful campaign.
It has now been reported that reported that Jeff Sessions – the nation’s top law enforcement official – allegedly lied under oath to the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation hearings about meetings with Russian officials. He allegedly had contact with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 presidential campaign. These revelations prompted a statement from numerous Democratic legislators, including liberal California Senator Pelosi:
“Jeff Sessions lied under oath during his confirmation hearing before the Senate. Under penalty of perjury, he told the Senate Judiciary Committee, ‘I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I did not have communications with the Russians.’ We now know that statement is false.
“Attorney General Sessions has never had the credibility to oversee the FBI investigation of senior Trump officials’ ties to the Russians. That is why Democrats have consistently called for Sessions to recuse himself from any oversight of the investigation.
“Now, after lying under oath to Congress about his own communications with the Russians, the Attorney General must resign. Sessions is not fit to serve as the top law enforcement officer of our country and must resign. There must be an independent, bipartisan, outside commission to investigate the Trump political, personal and financial connections to the Russians.”
Pelosi will hold a press conference today, “live from the Capitol,” about the Russia-Sessions debacle.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions released a statement on Russia rumors saying, “I never met with any Russian officials to discuss issues of the campaign. I have no idea what this allegation is about. It is false.”
Under oath as he was considered for appointment as Attorney General, Sessions said: “I did not have communications with the Russians.”
Meanwhile, the ACLU is also calling for investigations into whether Sessions perjured himself during his confirmation hearing. ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero issued the following statement:
“Jeff Sessions took an oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and it is now clear that he broke that oath in his confirmation hearing. If senators of both parties allow an attorney general nominee to plainly lie under oath with no repercussions, they will render our government’s cabinet confirmation process no more than kabuki theater. This matter must not and cannot be seen as a partisan issue, as it goes to the heart of the credibility of our democracy. The American people deserve a full investigation into whether Sessions perjured himself and if he is indeed fit to serve as our nation’s highest law enforcement official. No one is above the law — certainly not those sworn to uphold it.”
In his confirmation hearing, then-Senator Sessions was asked about Russia and responded at the time that he “did not have any communications with the Russians.” It has since come to light that Sessions met with Russia’s ambassador to the United States on at least several occasions.
Attorney General Sessions has already agreed to recuse himself from investigations into ties between Trump campaign officials and the Russian government if appropriate.
AG Sessions should clarify his testimony and recuse himself
— Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) March 2, 2017
#Sessions lied under oath about contact with Russians. He's unfit to investigate Trump & unfit to serve as AG. He should resign immediately. https://t.co/SPAi4wv2ED
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) March 2, 2017
