Sessions had launched a tough pro-enforcement agenda on drug crimes and immigration when the Washington Post reported that he had met with the Russian ambassador twice during the 2016 campaign.
Though the Justice Department maintains that it has fully disclosed the extent of Sessions' foreign contacts past year, lawmakers have continued to press him for answers about an April 2016 event at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, where both Sessions and Kislyak attended a foreign policy speech by Trump.
Democrats, in contrast, asked substantive questions about Comey's version of his February 14 one-on-one meeting with Trump and its aftermath; Sessions' and other campaign officials' meetings with Russians; and Sessions' justification for recommending Comey's firing. Though I do recall several conversations I had during that pre-speech reception, I do not have any recollection of meeting or talking to the Russian Ambassador or any other Russian officials.
Franken, however, called Sessions testimony on Tuesday "very unsettling" and tore into Sessions and other Trump administration officials for appearing "unconcerned" by the fact that the Kremlin sought to influence the 2016 presidential election. "Further, I have no knowledge of any such conversations by anyone connected to the Trump campaign".
Sessions, who is the latest high-profile official to address the panel, announced Saturday that he would go before the Intelligence Committee despite being previously scheduled to discuss the Justice Department's budget in Tuesday hearings before Senate and House Appropriations subcommittees.
Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who sits on the intelligence committee, said he fears that administration officials will "blur the lines between executive privilege and classification, and over-classification".
USA intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian Federation interfered in the election to help Trump in part by hacking and releasing damaging emails about Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
"I. why don't you tell me?"
He said he would agree to dismiss Mueller only if there were a legitimate basis to do so. She said such a move would "destroy any shred of trust in the president's judgment that remains over here".
"I'm not claiming executive privilege, because that's the President's power", Sessions told Sen.
Feinstein also asked if Rosenstein had an estimate for how long the investigation will take.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is the arguably the most vulnerable member of President Donald Trump's cabinet. Lindsey Graham, Rosenstein said that having given political donations is not a disqualifier.
US President Donald Trump denies collusion or obstruction after James Comey testimony
Trump said, "We are very, very happy" that Comey confirmed publicly that he had not been the subject of an FBI investigation. Trump has a history of promising to deliver things that never materialize and is not known as a reliable truth-teller .
Sessions referred to a resolution that restricts the department from using funds to prevent states from implementing their own medical marijuana laws.
Sessions dodged questions about were whether he had discussed Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey's handling of the FBI's Russian Federation probe with Trump before the president fired Comey on May 9.
During a highly-anticipated Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, the New Mexico Democrat confronted Sessions about his refusal to reveal non-classified conversations with the president after Sessions dodged a question about whether Trump expressed dissatisfaction over Sessions' recusal from the investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election.
According to Comey, Trump said of Flynn: "He is a good guy". White House frustrations with the Justice Department spilled into public view last week, when Trump on Twitter criticized the legal strategy in defending his proposed travel ban.
Under questioning from Sen.
"Well said AG Sessions: 'I did not recuse myself from defending my honor from false & scurrilous accusations, '" Donald Jr. wrote, while quoting Jeff Sessions.
If questions arise about what matters Sessions should stay away from, he said, a career official in Rosenstein's office is consulted. It is, however, his first trip since Trump, his former "Celebrity Apprentice" boss, became president.
"Senator, I'm not going to follow any orders unless I believe those are lawful and appropriate orders", Rosenstein answered.
The attorney general will also face questions about whether he met Kislyak on a third occasion.
As the White House's political crisis over the Russian Federation investigation has grown, the attorney general has laid low.
He says he is confident that Mueller will have "the full independence he needs" to investigate thoroughly. "Let him answer", he told Harris.
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