#SessionsHearing, What You Need To Know
By: Kayla Pasacreta
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is currently on the House floor to answer questions carefully selected by the House Judiciary Committee. The last time Jeff Sessions testified in front of members of Congress was June, following the firing of former FBI director James Comey. If you keep up with the complicated-confusing-Russia saga, you're probably aware that Jeff Sessions has not been particularly helpful.
Sessions on the Hill, photo via Getty Images
He previously lied under oath, forcing him to recuse himself from the Russia Investigation.
What did he lie about?
- He told the Senate Intelligence Committee that he had no interaction with Russian officials during the campaign, but later reports proved he met with Russian ambassadors several times.
What will they ask him today?
- Ask him to clarify his past cloudy statements about meetings with Russian officials. Perhaps they'll ask if he knew about Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with Russian lawyers.
- Did he collude with Russia? Was he apart of attempts to cover up any collusion from other campaign officials?
- Rep. Jackson Lee asked Sessions why the Department of Justice (DOJ) is targeting Black Lives Matter activists but ignoring the "tiki-torch parade" of Charlottesville.
What is he saying so far?
- "I've always told the truth, and I have answered every question as I understood them to the best of my recollection." Sessions insists that any questions he did not truthfully answer previously were not lies; but mere inability to recollect. Hence the classic: "I do not recall!"
- When asked if he considers Black Lives Matter (BLM) an identity extremist group, he responded, "I cannot comment on that and have said nothing to that effect."
- Says he has "no reason" to doubt the women who have accused Roy Moore of sexual assault.
- Admitted to not remembering a meeting with former Trump official George Papadopoulous, who pleaded guilty to lying to FBI officials about the Russia probe. Sessions blamed his forgetfulness on sleep deprivation, and said news coverage of the meeting is what helped him remember the meeting happened, "Frankly, I had no recollection of this meeting until I saw these news reports." When asked about what was discussed during the meeting, Sessions said he could "not recall" specific details of that meeting.
If you want any more proof Sessions is being difficult #af when it comes to answering questions, check out this transcript from Slate:
“Conyers: Yes or no, if you can. ... Should the president of the United States make public comments that might influence a pending criminal investigation?
Sessions: Should he take great care in those issues...
Conyers: Could you respond yes or no?
Sessions: Well, I don’t know exactly the facts of what you’re raising and what amounts to the concern you have. I would say it’s improper to influence—it would be—a president cannot improperly influence an investigation.”
Safe to say, Sessions isn't doing the best job answering questions that may be damaging to his boss.