My early take, a bit too hard to believe. Link.
But AT BEST, he “misspoke” while making a blanket statement about this, in non-answer to Senator Franken’s question.
Thoughts? Developments?
Please share widely!
Reality-based commentary on politics.
JimC says
n/t
betsey says
Seems more like perjury to me…
bob-gardner says
. . .where he said that the FBI had no further evidence of people from the Trump campaign being in contact with the Russians. This despite Sessions meeting with the Russian ambassador which apparently took place at the Capitol.
Think the FBI is trying very hard?
TheBestDefense says
Here is a link to the NYTimes 42 second bit recording Sessions’ testimony on contact with Russia. They are reporting that he met twice with the Russian ambassador, the first of which seems to these eyes to be an inconsequential rubbing of shoulders at a Heritage Foundation event but the second of which was a private meeting in Sessions office. The DoJ, in a public statement, is leaving open the possibility that they spoke about the election.
Sen McCaskill tweeted “I’ve been on the Armed Services Com for 10 years,” she wrote on Twitter on Thursday. “No call or meeting w/Russian ambassador. Ever. Ambassadors call members of Foreign Rel Com.”
https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000004965337/jeff-sessions-testimony-on-russia-contacts.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
fredrichlariccia says
by establishing an INDEPENDENT 9/11 style investigative Commission to uncover the TRUTH.
Subpoena ALL these corrupt Trumpists and make them swear under oath they didn’t collude with Russia to defeat Clinton.
Lying Bastards !
Fred Rich LaRiccia
JimC says
it’s a strange world we live in.
johntmay says
Since we do not control anything and Trump supporters do not seem to care at all.
Mark L. Bail says
A lot of elected Republicans care, but they have to decide when to jump the Trump ship. In politics, politicians act politically, which means carefully and slowly. The Democrats would be more conscientious, but they would also consider the political winds.
Right now, we can do what I’ve been trying to do for weeks now. Talk about the Trump-Russia Connection. I’ve been posting here and on Facebook. Pumping up the facts and putting in front of people. I have a feeling that like people have been looking at my recent posts like they were written by a well-liked, but slightly crazy uncle. It’s fun to be ahead of the curve, I admit, but my overall strategy was to do my small part to expose the story and facts. John, you talk to people, read up on the issue and talk to people. The more you know before they do, the greater your credibility will be. Here’s a good story about Trump’s Russian mob ties to get you started: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/02/24/meet-felix-sater-the-russian-bad-hombre-who-works-with-trump.html?via=desktop&source=twitter
We’re six weeks after the election, and we’ve had a year’s worth of scandals and screw up’s by the Trump Administration. In the best of times, the public is slow to focus and slow to process. This is not the best of times.
The media–WaPo and NYT–have been doing a good job digging up stories. Yesterday, NPR caught up with my posts and had a story on Felix Sater. The information is out there. It’s in news stories going back a couple of decades. Long before Trump became a 2016 candidate. The impact of news is cumulative, and the Russia Connection accumulating. MSNBC has scheduled a news special on it. This really is a tipping point issue. I believe it will tip, but it will take time.
johntmay says
Republicans office holders in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts?
Is Baker worried?
JimC says
Will you let this play out a little before you throw a wet blanket on it? As I note below, this is a huge deal. It’s bigger than how it affects our prospects.
johntmay says
…the people in Massachusetts can focus on Sessions and his comrades, OR, we can ask Chaяlie Bakeя if he approves of this and if not why he will not comment?
Mark L. Bail says
Baker has set himself as the alternative to the Trump side of the party. In some respects, Trump benefits him and his “bipartisanship.”
johntmay says
Maybe he assumes that role, but I have not seen him promote himself as such.
Mark L. Bail says
about bipartisanship. And his sending Polito around the state with the Community Compact to involve/look helpful/show non-partisan work with Massachusetts municipalities.
johntmay says
And I would like to know why.
fredrichlariccia says
1. First, find the TRUTH.
2. Call on ALL patriots to defend their country against ALL enemies — foreign and domestic.
3. Continue ‘dropping a dime’ to the media with evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
4. Defend our Courts as protector of our Constitution. No one is above the law.
5. Support our Congressional delegation calling for Sessions resignation.
6. Demand the establishment of an INDEPENDENT 9/11 style investigation with subpoena power to uncover the truth.
7. Remember. Silence implies Consent. Speak up and speak out now until Justice is done.
8. RESIST !
And that’s just for starters !
Fred Rich LaRiccia
Mark L. Bail says
RETELL class, but I put the chances at 80% that Sessions announces his resignation at his press conference, which is supposed to start in 5 minutes.
Mark L. Bail says
I never thought of recusal. That was a good political move. My estimation should have been 60% at most. Probably lower.
Can’t forecast and run.
TheBestDefense says
Recusal is not enough. Some say resignation. Indictment for perjury is the appropriate response. A question for people with a background in criminal prosecution: can a federal prosecutor indict the AG?
Sessions knows he is bleeding in shark filled water and some of the sharks are GOP. Many are more afraid of losing in the 2018 cycle than they are of eating one of their own.
Mark L. Bail says
system than I do, but that Sessions’s alleged crime took place in Congress. I don’t think a federal prosecutor would have jurisdiction there. Not that I know much on this, but federal prosecutors are assigned jurisdictions, aren’t they? Carmen Ortiz, for example, couldn’t indict him for perjury.
I still think the odds are that he resigns before too long.
TheBestDefense says
but the DoJ website says that the incumbent for DC was appointed by Obama in 2015. In other words, not a Trump stooge.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/meet-us-attorney
Other sites say the US Attorney for DC is responsible for prosecuting violations of federal law that occur in DC. Hence my question. Sessions ain’t gonna prosecute himself and the Congress is giving him the easy road out of town. Is it worth a major calling upon US Attorney Channing Phillips to seek a grand jury against Sessions? I am guessing that lawyers with a history in the federal criminal courts will have a different response than political people.
Mark L. Bail says
issues in investigating and indicting his boss.
Besides, I think the jurisdiction of Congression “trumps” federal district court. You’d have a separations of powers issues between the judicial and legislative branches. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but it’s at least a political quagmire.
I’m just speculating, but the Lawfare Blog has good non-partisan, legal info on this stuff. It will become an increasingly useful source during Trump’s tenure.
Mark L. Bail says
of the executive and judicial branches, but it doesn’t seem that either branch has oversight of Congress.
(I screwed up the above comment mixing up the executive and judicial branches. I meant “federal district,” not federal district court).
Peter Porcupine says
Can his committee do it with propriety?
Mark L. Bail says
going to have to decide when to start putting country before party. It’s not an easy decision, given political realities. Once Paul Ryan and the rest of the GOP caucus decide it’s not worth supporting Trump, they’ll jump ship.
With Russia, I think the Right is in a similar position as the Left was from the 1920s to the 1960s with dupes, sympathizers, and outright spies. There are still some useful idiots on the Left. The Nation magazine seems to have been duped. Katrina Vandenheuvel’s husband was once a respected Russia academic, now he’s Putin apologist trying to soft-pedal Russia’s actions in the Ukraine and Crimea. Apparently, so is the odious Jill Stein. The Ed Show guy is now on Russia Today.
But the Right is more attracted to Russian ideology and money. Trump was in bed with the Russian mob. Marie LePen may have taken money from the Russians.
The House has congressional oversight of the executive branch. The House Oversight Committee has broad investigative powers. They investigated 9/11 and the Plame leak. The House Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) is would seem the more appropriate. It seems Nunes and Schiff, chair and ranking member of HPSCI have agreed on a Scope of Investigation.
The focus:
–What Russian cyber activity and other active measures were directed against the United States and its allies?
—Did the Russian active measures include links between Russia and individuals associated with political campaigns or any other U.S. Persons?
–What was the U.S. Government’s response to these Russian active measures and what do we need to do to protect ourselves and our allies in the future?
–What possible leaks of classified information took place related to the Intelligence Community Assessment of these matters?
Question 2 is the question that will lead to calling in Trump people, probably including Sessions.
JimC says
National Security Advisor — OUT.
Attorney General recuses himself from an investigation about the election.
My “BFD” is sincere. Regardless of what emerges later, this is a big effing deal.
Christopher says
First, Sessions has announced he will recuse himself from Russia-related investigations. Second, the entire MA federal delegation (largest single-party delegation in the country I’m proud to say) has called for him to resign.
centralmassdad says
He recused himself from Russia-related investigations of matters relating to the campaign, which excludes Russia-related investigations of the transition period. So, a partial recusal.
johntmay says
It’s official. It’s now to be known as the Яepublican PaЯt☭
fredrichlariccia says
Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee now want to call “I don’t recall” AG back and ask why he perjured himself under oath during his confirmation hearing when he said he didn’t meet with the Russians.
Fred Rich LaRiccia
fredrichlariccia says
Fred Rich LaRiccia
bob-gardner says
Lock Him Up
hashtag crooked Jeff
JimC says
Think about it: the issue is the election, and the accused is one of our chief rival nations, and the AG has to recuse himself because he was a campaign surrogate.
How about, if you’re a campaign surrogate, you’re not even eligible to be attorney general?
fredrichlariccia says
” I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Now there’s a novel idea.
Fred Rich LaRiccia
bob-gardner says
because he tried to make his role in the MLK assassination case sound more important than it actually was?
JimC says
n/t
JimC says
I would say no, but he may have slowed the process down.
fredrichlariccia says
by stepping all over the positive reaction to his Tuesday address to Congress.
That’s why the idiot went into a rage against his staff on Friday for the Sessions recusal.
Fred Rich LaRiccia