UpdateTrump’s attorney general Sessions recuses himself from Russia probe, amid outcry over meetings with ambassador
Decision to remove himself from any investigation comes in spite of Trump expressing full confidence in Sessions, and seeing no need for recusal
US Attorney General Jeff Sessions will step aside from any further involvement in the investigation of Russian interference in the US presidential election, he announced at a news conference Thursday.
His announcement came amid mounting calls from fellow Republicans for Sessions to recuse himself from any role in the investigation. Those calls began when news broke that Sessions had failed to disclose his contacts during the campaign year with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak.
During his confirmation hearing earlier this year, Sessions said he had not had meetings with Russian officials. In fact, he had at least two conversations with the ambassador, including one meeting in Sessions’ office in September.
Just hours before the Sessions press conference, US President Donald Trump had said he had “total” confidence in Sessions. “I don’t think so,” he told reporters during a visit to Newport News, Virginia, when asked whether Sessions should step aside from the investigations.
Answering questions from reporters, Trump said he “wasn’t aware at all” that Sessions had spoken with the Russian ambassador. Asked whether Sessions testified truthfully to the Senate, Trump said, “I think he probably did.”
