The connection between Uranium One, Frank Guistra and the Clinton Foundation is public knowlege. The Clinton Foundation's Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative to combat poverty in the developing world was featured prominently on the Clinton Foundations website (I recall that very well) and is also mentioned by wikipedia in their article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium_One
"In 2007 Uranium One acquired a controlling interest in UrAsia Energy,[4] a Canadian firm with headquarters in Vancouver, from Frank Giustra.[5]
UrAsia Energy has interests in rich uranium operations in Kazakhstan.[6] UrAsia Energy's acquisition of its Kazakhstan uranium interests from Kazatomprom followed a trip to Almaty in 2005 by Giustra and former U.S. President Bill Clinton where they met with Nursultan Nazarbayev, the leader of Kazakhstan.
Substantial contributions to the Clinton Foundation by Giustra followed,[5][7] with Clinton, Giustra, and Mexican telecommunications billionaire Carlos Slim in 2007 establishing the Clinton Foundation's Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative to combat poverty in the developing world.[8] In addition to his initial contribution of $100 million Giustra pledged to contribute half of his future earnings from mining to the initiative.[8]" [Which was part of the Clinton Foundation].
I did not vote for Donald Trump (nor Hillary Clinton).
Unsteady recall? When he's not playing dumb he is lying through his teeth. Both Republicans and Democrats in the hearing room know it, and certainly we the public can see through his phony affronted air. Moreover, fearing future prosecution he tries to play down his role and even calls his own team "ineffective".
2
How is it that so many of our governmental leaders have such poor memories? they just can't seem to remember anything of importance. Strange that.
6
It is a sad day in America reagrdless of your political affiliation when you see the Attorney General of the United States lie to the American people. And then to see his own party support him in the lying. Especially after the Truth Police were so adament about impeaching Clinton for lying about matters that, well, let's just say they don't rise to this level of treason.
I would like to believe that a party that is so utterly devoid of ethics cannot stay in power. On the other hand, GOP response (especially the base) suggests to me that these Good Ol' Boys will be just fine.
If that is true, then the rule of law means very little. If you have the power, then you are above the law. In that case, the United States is just another corrupt country among many. We were far from perfect but there was a sense that we would eventually sort things out. Now, not so much.
9
Well, Sessions has flat out LIED under oath now at three separate hearings, conveniently offering up the laughable excuse of "I don't recall'. And what will become of it? Absolutely NOTHING. While we hide behind words like "Freedom" and "Democracy" it's always and always has been about money and power. He will walk, just like all of the CEOs of AIG and Goldman Sachs back in '08 and John Q. Public will be left to scratch his head and wonder about the price of Soy Beans.
4
I tried to watch this, but honestly, I don't have the stomach for it anymore. I am so grateful for Robert Mueller and his team and for the Democrats persevering on these committees. Thank you from one nauseated citizen.
10
Just when you think the Republicans are running out of deplorable government officials, someone like "Representative" Goodlatte steps forward.
6
Seems to me the nation's chief law enforcement officer ought to have a decent memory. Sessions is either incompetent or dishonest. Given whom he works for, probably both.
13
What do you suppose these complicit members of congress have to hide? My guess is the Russians have a few unflattering emails from the accounts of these hacks as well.
13
Sessions is a despicable liar and a lying cad posing as a Christian. He will investigate Hillary at Trump's bidding to distract from the President fascist doings and keep his warm seat as AG. He is a dishonor to his office.
18
So can Attorney General Jeff Sessions appoint a special counsel to investigate Traitor Jeff Sessions?
Just wondering.
2
Most of the Democrats questioning Sessions today act like they belong in the clown car in a circus.
2
I dont remember the meeting but i assure I shot down any bad ideas in the meeting
8
Given all of Sessions' memory lapses, I think it's time he undergo a complete neuro-psych evaluation. America cannot afford to have a demented U.S. attorney general helming our Justice Department.
10
“Mr. Sessions told Rep. Bob Goodlatte, the Virginia Republican who chairs the committee, that the leaking of classified information was “a very grave offense.”
But Grandpa, the destruction of our democracy for financial gain is a grave offense as well. Please eat some carrots or take a foreign language class Pops. It will help your memory.
4
Can't recall = I'm guilty of what you just asked about.
"I can't recall" was not a satisfactory answer when the Gipper used it to weasel out of Iran-Contra. It's certainly an admission of guilt.
4
So, just how many times will Sessions be allowed to lie under oath about lying under oath?
10
Seems like Jeff Sessions needs to appoint a special counsel to investigate Jeff Sessions.
4
I don't think I want to hand over my country to Trump and Bannon! they're doing exactly as they planned....creating chaos within the democratic system.... making room for totalitarianism.
5
That certainly was an interesting hearing. It seems the only things Sessions recalled or remembered, he couldn't answer because of some fantasy executive privilege. On the good side it was nice to see Louis Gohmert again. Remember when he used to be the biggest nut job in Congress?
Sessions lying under oath about lying under oath.
4
Sessions denied that he lied by saying he forgot. I never saw that coming!
If he ever finds himself being cross-examined I pity the poor prosecutor who has to deal with such genius.
3
The House hearings yesterday with Attorney General Sessions were a disgrace. For the Democrats, they seemed to believe that this was another chance for them to act disrespectful and to bash President Trump. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee apparently thought she was back in the Houston getto. It wiped have been laughable if it wasn’t so pitiful. Jackson Lee should learn to address our President properly. Its PRESIDENT Trump, not Trump. John Conyers was an advertisement for term limits. He is 88 years old and in the House since 1965 - that’s 52YEARS!! He had a very hard time reading his ill prepared notes and couldn’t read them. What are the people of Detroit thinking? Sessions had all he could do to not laugh at these nitwits. Clean up the Democratic Party! My teased father, a Democratic figure would role over in his grace if he saw his Party today.
2
Mr. Sessions is a liar and a disgrace to this country.
Yes, Republicans. When someone has to "correct the statement" that many times on clear and important issues - like did you meet with enemies of this country - that's a liar.
5
The only acceptable testimony he has given was that about "not having any reason to doubt..." the accusations against #roymoorepedo.
1
Speaking as an Alabama citizen, all I have to say about Little Jeffrey's lies under oath is: LOCK HIM UP!
3
As Republicans never used to tire of telling us, law and order and that old "Nation of Laws" Chestnut are all that stand between us and chaos.
Now that our law enforcement machine, from the Sessions dumb show to the corruption of the Supremes at the top to the heavily armed and murderous commandos on the street, has abandoned the law for the their own interests can chaos be far behind?
I think we should take the four hundred bajillion dollars not budgeted for the Wall of Mexico and build somthing similar along our norther border. If there's anyone on earth who can't figure out how to circumvent a big beautiful wall its our woebegone military, and somebody has to do something to protect Canada. They've always been such good friends.
4
Doing today’s hearing, Sessions stood by his previous testimony. During his confirmation hearing, Sen Al Franken remarked: "CNN just published a story alleging that the intelligence community provided documents to the president-elect last week that included information that quote ‘Russian operatives claimed to have compromising personal and financial information about Mr. Trump.’ These documents also allegedly say quote, ‘There was a continuing exchange of information during the campaign between Trump's surrogates and intermediaries for the Russian government.’ Now, again, I'm telling you this as it's coming out, so you know. But if it's true, it's obviously extremely serious and if there is any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of this campaign, what will you do?" Instead of answering Franken’s question, Session said he personally “did not have communications with the Russians.” Session was obviously referring to the Russian operatives who claimed to have compromising information about Trump. The Russian ambassador is not an “operative,” a term that applied to covert agents. Franken was specifically referring to the notorious Russian Dossier. Ironically, we now know that the Clinton campaign and DNC—not the Russians—paid a former British spy to compile the dossier. Thanks to the Papadopoulos video, we now know what Sessions would do if anyone propose a meeting with the Russian. He objected.
1
My Fellow Americans: “I had no recollection of this meeting until I saw these news reports,” Mr. Sessions said. And I will also not remember anything else that stinks to high heaven -- until reminded by future revelations.
5
When one looks at the people whom have been part of Trump's entourage and met at one time or another with "higher ups" in the Russian leadership, do they honestly want us to believe for one moment that they were not going to be targets of the Russian Intelligence apparatus?
4
On one hand Sessions said he rejected whatever was proposed to the Trump team, but on the other hand, he cannot "recall" what was discussed. As the AG and the number 1 prosecutor in the country, how did he pass the bar exam?
7
Oy! Let's take Sessions at his word: he does not remember this; he does not remember that; except sometimes, when confronted with irrefutable evidence, such as photographs and testimony of others, and then he "sorta" remembers, but he recalls it all differently. He needs to be removed from office based on his diminished mental capacity. There's a rocking chair waiting for him in Alabama.
6
I never thought this could happen. I believed so much in our democratic system of checks and balances. But I guess there is no system that can withstand lies and collusion.
We have to accept resistance is not enough. We can all resist until the cows come home. In the meantime, the cattle rustlers will have taken our prime cuts and auctioned them off to the highest bidders.
We need to move from resistance to Take Action. What is the 'right action' remains the big question. I wish I had the answer..
4
Although Mr. Trump himself claims to have an excellent memory, today's testimony by Atty. Gen. Sessions (and other recent incidents) suggests strongly that written notes should be kept of every meeting held: the date and time, who was there, what the main topics of discussion and decision were. In all busy enterprises it is impossible to rely exclusively on memory of meetings held even last week much less last year. Notes in some form are essential in case later recollections diverge.
3
I was appalled by the lack of questioning of Sessions regarding his chairing trump's foreign policy team. Carter Page said the team kept expanding, but nobody ask Sessions who was on the team. Nobody asked Sessions if he had any communication either oral or electronic with other members of the team. Nobody asked Sessions about his contacts with trump. Were they oral? Did he communicate in writing? He previously testified he did not communicate in writing. Nobody asked details about the March 31 meeting with the team. The list goes on. But one glaring omission was nobody ask if he, Sessions was informed by either Papadapolous, trump jr., Manafort, or anyone else associated with trump or his campaign that the Russians had dirt or damaging information on Clinton. Basically, the Democrats failed to lay a foundation to trip Sessions up in the future when additional information comes out. After seeing today's hearing, I feel that if Mueller's team are as inept and incompetent as the Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee, we should all be worried.
2
Looks as though Sessions has taken a leaf from former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales's notebook. How many times did we hear: "I don't recall";"I don't remember"; when he was called to testify before Congress about the numerous firings of U.S. attorneys while he was Attorney General and his perhaps lying under oath about them. Oddly enough, Jeff Sessions was reportedly frustrated by Gonzales's replies at the time. Guess Sessions has decided it was a good strategy if you want to avoid purgery charges.
Gonzales ended up having to resign. Sessions should follow suit.
8
"Unsteady recall," a close cousin to "lying through his teeth."
7
Would you buy a used car from Ol' Jeff Sessions?
4
Mr Sessions gives new meaning to the term "equal justice under law."
1
"I forgot." is simply not a valid defense for people who claim to be wise and experienced enough to serve in the cabinet, run agencies, be judges, or hire/fire people. It hardly serves as a credible defense in criminal law, so why should it with the white-collar types? Just another proof point for the disgusting difference between white-collar and blue-collar "justice" in America.
17
Powerful men forget. The powerless lie.
10
I question whether Sessions is mentally competent enough to continue serving as USAG, he seems to have problems with his memory.
14
Let's keep this simple. Play the tapes for him.
And then prosecute him.
12
If I remember correctly saying I have no current recollection got a lot of Nixon's people in jail.
13
A sad day for America when the lead law enforcement officer in the country shows disdain for the law.
15
He perjured himself before Congress, just as Kushner and others have done while filling out security forms. Prosecute the bunch of them, convenient "memory lapses" don't hold water in a court of law.
12
He seems to have a very horrible memory for an attorney, let alone the Attorney General.
9
Mr. Conyers said the appointment of a new special counsel was merely to “cater to the President’s political needs.” He argued that there was not sufficient evidence to do so. And, he said, it smacked of “a banana republic.”
In other words, an authoritarian regime. Why Democrats just do not come out and say what is happening in this country in plain language is beyond me. We are sliding towards authoritarianism. Many people will say that cannot happen here in America; we have rule of law, separation of powers, and we have a constitution. Yeah. Keep telling yourself that.
11
Sessions had perfect recall about 'unacceptable' comments on DACA by then president Obama but no recall on hearing anything about RUSSIA, all during the same time-frame?
I finally had to turn the TV off because my hair caught fire.
11
Trump and the Republicans are trying to pervert the Justice Department from it's public identity and function as an independent tool of American justice and law enforcement into a private partisan political weapon. They would rather it be like something found in Putin's Russia, Xi's China, Duterte's Philippines or North Korea's Kim.
The conservatives and Republicans are trying to destroy this country. Americans had better wake up.
7
As a native New York transplant to North Carolina and a life long italian-american-I recognize this Sessions guy just like the mafiosi I grew up with. My grandmother and parents never uttered the word 'mafia' but always called them the 'black hand'
'I don't know anything', ' I can't recall, Senator' or wait for it-'I plead the fifth'.
And we are supposed to look up to this guy as the chief law enforcer-give me a break-he needs to be impeached!
8
The only way to break the lie factory of right wing media and talk show hosts (funny how they hate hollywood but love radio talk show hosts) is to let Republican policies go through.
Yup, that's right, let it happen. Let them repeal the ACA, cut the EPA, State Dept, Education Dept. etc. programs (this only hurts poor red states). Let them elect Roy Moore, let them do nothing about assault weapons, and let them reap what they have sown. It's the only way, blue collar white folks will learn, unfortunately it has to be the hard way.
3
I don't know nothin' about Russians and I was concentrating on my fingernails when the go-between was talking about getting a meeting with Trump and Putin. I don't recall Donald being there, I was thinking about how Hillary gave all the Canadian uranium to the Russkis.
8
Sessions and Trump are a menace to this country - and those who support them are complicit.
10
Many years ago, I recall Senator Irving Ives, Republican of New York, responding to Jimmy Hoffa's lapses of memory in a Labor Rackets subcommittee hearing: "You have a very convenient forgetory."
11
The Guardian reports Sessions as saying to Senator Jordan re justification for a Clinton Special Prosecutor, "You can have your idea, but sometimes we have to study what the facts are..." Yeah nah, doubt if that'll catch on.
3
These Trump people do know how to lie -- with a straight face. They tell the partial truth, the whole partial truth and nothing but the whole partial truth. So help them Don.
6
Mr. Sessions has earned some credibility since taking office. His recusal from all matters related to the election, his admission that he mistakenly denied contact with the Russians, and his head-on conflict with Trump all suggest that he has principles about him. But he also seems to have a fatal weakness -- he wants the AG's job too much. He caved on the Clinton investigation, which he never should have opened. And on balance, he seems to be too willing to compromise himself to remain AG. I would say that he's basically honest but fatally weak, and when his job is at stake, he can be manipilated by Trump.
2
Jeff Sessions sounded a lot like Ronald Reagan.
5
Attorney General, how often are you trying to intentionally misunderstand the questions you're being asked? As often as you don't recall, perhaps?
9
Well the Attorney General just gave us an excellent lesson on how to evade questions under oath. Kudos to Representative Jayapal for finally directly pointing out the contradiction between Sessions' claim that he knew nothing about any meetings between Trump's team and Russians, and his claim that he remembered clearly pushing back on Popadopolous' suggestion during a meeting of Trump's team. Sessions thus admits he was at the meeting (which we know from a photograph), and then he must have heard about Popadopolous' Russian contacts. Rep. Jayapal also pointed out that as Attorney General he can be expected to have a better degree of recall. Along that line, Sessions should not have been allowed to get away with his claim that he should not be expected to remember every Russian person he met with over his entire life. The questions were focused during the campaign, which wasn't that long ago. Since the investigation started, first he didn't remember that he met with a Russian ambassador, then he remembered he did but he doesn't remember what was said. Unbelievable and unacceptable.
9
Just trying to get the story straight.
So the Attorney General is asserting that it’s okay for the rest of us to say one thing under oath and another thing later on because we forgot and now we remember. And that’s cool.
Of is the story that our Attorney General doesn’t keep an appointment book or note when meetings take place and relies entirely on his clearly flawed ability to remember? Or that in preparation for sworn testimony, it’s not necessary for anyone to review their behavior or schedules?
Or what is the moral of the story?
10
I'll accept that Sessions didn't lie about Russian contacts and that he has a faulty memory, but only if he'll resign because a person with such a faulty memory is unqualified to be attorney general.
7
Recollection is defined in Sessions speak as "incentive to come clean." Example of use in a sentence, "“I had no incentive to come clean about this meeting until I saw these news reports,” Mr. Sessions said.
7
I don't pretend to be a lawyer, but isn't lying under oath, as Attorney General Sessions apparently has previously done when testifying in front of Congress, a criminal offense?
9
“I had no recollection of this meeting until I saw these news reports.” I would not remain employed if I could not remember entire meetings.
4
Sessions' inability to accurately remember the facts is alarming. He should seek medical and psychological testing to check whether his failure of recollection has any physical or mental basis.
1
I am not a fan of Republican politics but Jeff Sessions deserves some credit for his ethics and professionalism. I am referring to his willingness to recuse himself from the Russian/Trump campaign investigation and now his refusal to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Hilary Clinton. In both these cases he has had to resist a ton of pressure from Trump who has the luxury to rant and fume over boundaries. Jeff Sessions at least has a finger in the dike of democracy
Sessions says that had no memory of a meeting in which he categorically warned a staff member NOT to collude with Russians, AND if that staff member DID meet or were to meet with the Russians OR their proxies, then that staff member would be doing so WITHOUT the approval of the campaign....
Yup, that does sound like something you might forget about...
4
Republicans vs. Democrats. The winner of this round will have shown their billionaire donors and their base that they are the toughest and most powerful. Rivals like China and Russia don't matter. Losers. Sad. Dummies.
1
I forgot babies.
1
Ever since Bill Clinton stated "it depends on what the definition of 'is' is", politicians have had a green light to hide behind minutiae. If you're going to castigate Jeff Sessions, you have only to look at Democrats for their intentional semantic games to see where it came from.
If you live in a glass house, you should avoid throwing stones.
2
Allow me to share some advice I was given a long, long time ago.
`One of the great things about telling the truth is that you don't have to remember what you said.'
18
They all seem to have amnesia or dementia. Here's another argument for age limits in Washington.
11
Just like his boss, Sessions is fast and loose with the facts. If you voted for this administration, you gotta hate the other side so much and no matter what this administration says, you forgive them, something the Dems should seriously consider.
6
I think Jeff Sessions is doing an outstanding job as AG. He is clamping down on illegal aliens which I like. I have applauded everything he has done since being AG. I am so glad that Trump appointed him.
He is a law and order man in the old tradition ans I like that. He should stay as AG where is skills are needed.
This Russia controversy is just the Dems making trouble - they need to look in their own closet before snooping in someone else's And Al Franken just makes a fool of himself with his hectoring, future questions when he questions Sesssion. Franken is a man with no manners but what would you expect from a comedian.
2
"...Franken is a man with no manners but what would you expect from a comedian." Perhaps you'd expect the same thing from a comedian that you'd expect from a reality show host...and unfortunately, we're getting that, every awful, sad day, from the current administration.
4
Kate McKinnon for Attorney General.
5
Trump and his government have ended the rule of law in America. Can we get it back before we collapse into totalitarianism? Why aren't the Democrat leaders howling and protesting?
9
Plunder and Deceit = GOP. Lets waste tax dollars on another meaningless investigation while the AG blantantly lies before a Congressional panel yet again.
6
The headline should read "Sessions Again Lies Under Oath About Russian Contacts".
16
Team Mueller might just be slow-pacing their investigation for 2 reasons. First, the past acts of corruption and treason by this administration are so widespread that it takes time, naturally, to track and uncover them. And second, evidence of new acts of corruption, treason and perjury are delivered fresh, daily to his office every time an administration member speaks. Gift wrapped.
10
Here is news you never hear in the US:
The globe’s richest 1% own half the world’s wealth, according to a new report highlighting the growing gap between the super-rich and everyone else.
The world’s richest people have seen their share of the globe’s total wealth increase from 42.5% at the height of the 2008 financial crisis to 50.1% in 2017, or $140tn (£106tn), according to Credit Suisse’s global wealth report published on Tuesday.
That is net work of $ 128, 700,000,000,000 (You can't even fit that number on an index card). More than two-fifths of the world’s millionaires and billionaires live in the US
These millionaires – who account for 0.7% of the world’s adult population – control 46% of total global wealth.
At the other end of the spectrum, the world’s 3.5 billion poorest adults each have assets of less than $10,000 (£7,600). Collectively these people, who account for 70% of the world’s working age population, account for just 2.7% of global wealth.
Meanwhile at the top of what Credit Suisse calls the “global wealth pyramid”, the 36 million people with at least $1m of wealth are collectively worth $128.7tn. More than two-fifths of the world’s millionaires live in the US
5
The SAME patters with Sessions and the Trump gang... they LIE, evidence surfaces proving their lie as such, and they deny it, claim they "mis-remembered" and get self-righteous...
Isn't perjury just perjury... so much for "law and order" Trump-style!
The most corrupt administration in history -- even the "Justice Dept" is corrupt and totally partisan!
6
If you look at the photo of the meeting with Sessions, Trump and Papadopoulos they have what looks like note pads in from of them. Why not ask Sessions to produce those notes?
12
It's never a good sign when you have to say, I'm not a liar.
12
"Jeff Sessions Displays Unsteady Recall on Trump-Russian Matters" - is just a polite way of saying "Jeff Sessions is a liar".
10
The creatures are crawling out of the Swamp - I mean the Administration.
6
Jeff Sessions is a liar. End of story.
9
In the old country when we know someone is lying like Sessions we call it
baby talk. It means the lying is so obvious, it’s stupid to take it seriously.
2
There are one of two things happening here.
1. Sessions is lying and shouldn't be AG.
2. Sessions is demented, with such poor brain function that he shouldn't be AG.
13
Talk about cognitive dissonance...how can Sessions deny doing something he was caught doing, red-handed?
This administration is trying to suck us into its Orwellian nightmare.
7
Well, if you're going to lie under oath, of course you're going to lie about lying under oath.
42
If Sessions perjured himself, he will have to recuse himself from his present position. I'm good with dat.
17
Is ANYONE fooled by this pathetic display!? My God, how long do we have to put up with the endless lies, dodges, feints and prevarications? With his bogus, innocent-puppy look, Mr. Sessions lies with staggering ease, remembering things only after he has been confronted with irrefutable evidence. "Oh, yes, now that you have proof I was lying I do remember that I disremembered to remember this lie. My bad."
This administration is the most profoundly corrupt and dishonest in history, a corruption so deep and pervasive it makes Nixon look like a Boy Scout.
52
A younger person who testified with that degree of selected memory would have to resign. I found his performance today pathetic.
37
Every morning I wake up into another nightmare. End Times is no exaggeration here - end times for what once was a good country. And in Vancouver, WA, yesterday there was an "It's OK to be White" rally. Seriously. Such a helpless, hopeless feeling to watch these people, who are either ignorant, stupid, racist, or some gleeful combination of both, worship a man who lies as easily as I breathe and who believe a media outlet that has raised lying to an art form.
26
Anyone who witnessed the almost famous (and not quite real) "Vantucky" race riots will know what that it's okay to be white rally was about. In a mostly white town where the most established immigrant population is from Russia, they need to fight back against the handful of brown and black people who are rumored to exist somewhere within city limits. Who can blame them for taking action against this well hidden danger?
3
Looks like Sessions is coasting by on convenient memory loss while waiting to possibly take back his old Senate seat -- and before doing so, he can throw a couple bones to Trump by starting an investigation of Hillary&Obama. Then Trump puts an underqualified lap dog in the Attorney General post, to serve as, at minimum, a threat to Mueller.
12
I hope Special Counsel Mueller can get to the bottom of this before the Russian/Republican mob find a way to obstruct him.
30
How many chances does this liar get to "refine" his testimony? Will he be back in another six months? He shouldn't be AG in the first place, and every step along the Russian road makes it just that much clearer. This administration is a nest of traitorous, lying vipers.
24
Republicans are enemies of truth, decency, and every American principle our country is built upon. They are Russian sympathizers pretending to be Americans. Lock them up!
23
He can’t recall anything, except when it can possibly save his and his Trump’s skin. Throw them out!
24
So he can bald-faced lie about lying? And that's cool?
14
Alas, it's come to this. A US Attorney General, who is nothing more than a quivering lap dog for a barking mad president. And the con job of suggesting the need for a special counsel to investigate Clinton yet again? This, my friends, may well be how democracy dies in our Republic.
31
I wonder if Mr. Sessions would have no reason to doubt the women who have accused Donald Trump of sexual molestation.
21
Mr Sessions -- You are not in Alabama any more. Deceit and pandering will not hold up in the court of public opinion when the truth is finally revealed.
Your ridiculous attempts to impune Mr Mueller with a distracting and irrelevant investigation that your boss requested in some sweaty locker room will not succeed. If the Clintons did something wrong, they should be prosecuted but don't try to derail the Russia investigation.
11
The Attorney General of the United States, long has been a flagrant liar.
Republican senators knew this when they confirmed him.
Republican corruption is rotting America to its core.
31
“Like when you guys put somebody in the car and you’re protecting their head...I said you can take the hand away, OK?”
- President Trump, offering advice to law enforcement.
Let's hope that despite the President's wishes, the FBI will be gentle when they arrest Sessions for perjury.
15
This person is in charge of our legal system, yet he lies under oath
Wow
32
Simply put, the man is a weasel.
In the end, he will be put in his place and will pay a heavy price.
16
Wait: Is Sessions lying now about having colluded with the Russians, or is he lying now about having lied about it before, or is he merely senile and thinks he's telling the truth? I'm so confused!
18
Lying about lying about lying. Except when he's forgetting that he forgot about forgetting. How can any Senator with a shred of dignity not go after this chump for perjury?
22
Maybe it’s time to change the Republican’s animal symbol to something else. After all, they say “an Elephant never forgets,” but the stalwarts of the Trump GOP administration seem to exist in a permanent state of “forgetfulness.”
13
Lies, Lies, Lies. The GOP/Trump and their supporters have brought our country to halt with their "alternate facts". Sessions should clearly be gone. He has lied repeatedly to congress. If he was not sure of any of this data, he could have consulted with aides. He is intentionally lying to protect Trump. He is putting loyalty to one man above country. As attorney general, he is supposed to represent the search for truth. Another disgusting member of the Trump swamp.
17
How can he say he hasn't lied when recent photo evidence shows him at a meeting with Papadopolous? He doesn't recall the meeting, yet he knows he told him that there would be no Trump-Putin meeting? This is ridiculous. Sessions is turning the DOJ into a farce. He's Trump's puppet, and Trump is Putin's. I'm nauseated at how our democracy is crumbling.
21
If someone doesn't remember committing treason, then I believe they should be considered unfit for a job - any job.
Yes, it's that big a deal!
Y- uge even!
15
As I understand it, the GOP plan now is for Moore to be elected and then expelled from the Senate, Sessions appointed to the Senate seat, which would allow tRump to fire Mueller with impunity. The republicans are definitely doing all they can to derail the remnants of democracy we still have in this country. Shameful, criminal, psychopathic, monstrous.
11
Being the Country's top law official you would like to think Mr. Sessions knows what perjury is? Or perhaps to be kind, he is a pathological liar in which case he either believes what he says or, given his age, it is entirely possible there is more space in his skull than substantive brain matter. Either way this man is, like his boss, a genuine threat to the continued existence of our democracy.
4
Sessions has guilt written all over him. He is lying through his teeth,
13
Can the AG, like the POTUS, be removed from office if he is no longer capable of carrying out his duties? Mr. Sessions' Alzheimers is reaching worrying proportions.
4
Where I come from you either told the truth or you lied. He didn't tell the truth. So where does that leave us? Sessions and others would be in cuffs if they were Democrats.
6
I am sincerely concerned about the investigative skills displayed by this justice department. President Trump should enlist the crack troops he deployed to Hawaii to check on Barack Obama's birth certificate. This administration is so exceptional that they could play musical chairs with cabinet chiefs and maintain the same standard of excellence. Sessions, Perry, Tillerson, Carson. Geniuses all. And not a liar in the bunch, right? God help us.
4
I can't wait until Sessions has handcuffs on his wrists. He continues to lie under oath. It will only be a matter of time.
4
He's got no way out. Just keep making excuses and lying.
3
When a liar is asked whether he is lying, he will tell you "no, I am not lying".
8
Watching one of the Republican members on the committee toss softballs at Jeff Sessions is kind of like watching Sean Hannity "interview" DJT.
11
Lying is totally acceptable in this administration.
13
"I am not a crook."
"I did not have sexual relations."
"I don't remember."
8
You can always tell when Sessions is lying: when his thin. bloodless lips move.
7
The man has such a poor memory that I wonder how he could possibly function as AG of the United States. (Oh . . . THAT meeting. Oh . . . THOSE Russians.)
Give me a break!
7
The system is not broken, this is exactly how this country was designed (remember that 3/5s compromise Kelly?). Apparently, this is a country for landed, lying white men. There have always been multiple "standards" for white folks. Jeff Sessions has lied and continues to lie through his teeth. I have no faith in "the system" or of "the government." He should be removed from office for all his lying and abuse of power, but alas, nothing will happen.
1
A fine President and a fine Attorney General you have, a fine NRA association you have and a fine - well I just have 1500 signs, but one more thing, at least we know who is lying, all the US secret services and all the people who oppose Trump and Sessions and ...
1
The Uranium One story is beyond nothing as an investigative matter,
This "scandal" emerged from the fever swamps of the right, because Hillary, Obama and Mueller were all in DC when the Uranium One sale was approved. No credible source in any venue, legislative or journalistic, has looked at this and deemed it newsworthy.
Uranium One has gained traction solely because the Republicans need SOMETHING, ANYTHING, to run as a media counter-narrative to the Mueller investigation, and fill time in right-leaning media spaces.
12
I am scared. This is not the America that I thought we live in!!!
6
If anybody but Sessions (or, I guess any other Republican) lies under oath, it's a crime. But, if they do it, it's just bad memory.
Must be nice.
7
Might I suggest that Attorney General Sessions be sent a copy of Al Franken's book "Lies, and the Lying Liars Who Tell them"?
Might I further suggest that Senator Franken consider writing a second edition of his book in which he adds a new chapter on past and potential United States Senators from Alabama: Jefferson Beauregard Sessions and Roy Moore?
5
He is Trump's dog. And he knows that if he equivocates, evades, forgets, and can't quite recall any of his connections to Russia, nothing will come of it.
What is it with prominent people from Alabama not being able to remember things that everyone else does and which there is some sort of record?
5
Sessions learned the fine art of Fact-Forgetting from Alberto "I don't recall" Gonzales, evidently.
2
Let's see:
1. Roy Moore bows out or is thrown out.
2. Sessions runs for the seat and wins
3. Trump appoints a new AG
4. New AG fires Mueller
5. New AG appoints a special prosecutor to go after Clinton
6. ?
3
I understand that older people sometimes can't remember things, and others can't remember anything at all. Is it possible that Mr. Sessions is actually... senile?
3
So, Sessions is lying about lying and he wants to prosecute Hilary Clinton for lying? Nice.....
3
He's even lying about not lying.
6
I did not lie, I just did not remember under oath but now I do when I am called again to testify under oath. How is that not a lie under oath? So let me get this straight. Any response you give under oath can be corrected once it is discovered that you did not tell the truth but that is not a lie under oath. So then what is the purpose of being under oath. You can simply say you did not remember then but you do now, once you get caught not telling the truth. Explain how that is not a lie under oath. If this piece of garbage gets away with this then congress might as well close up shop and stop questioning people under oath. The term will mean nothing. By the way, this piece of garbage is the nation's highest legal officer. I wonder what he would say if the shoe were on the other foot. We have turned our government over to seriously defective people.
5
When a politician says they are telling the truth you know they are lying.
2
Jared and Jeff and Paul and Rick and Mike all have remarkable retroactive memories once refreshed by the uncovering of facts by the Post, the Times and Bob Mueller and his team.
6
Darrell Issa is one of the prime offenders. The single richest individual in Congress, he made his fortune from car alarms - you know, the ones that cry Wolf so often they are a worthless nuisance and nothing more. Does he speak Russian? Maybe, but he can hire a full-time translator. Has he met with Russians? Probably. Maybe they want to buy car alarms for their cars that aren't worth stealing. Does he want to avoid talking about anything relevant? You betcha!
He should share a jail cell with Sessions and the rest of the cronies.
6
Sessions lies and lying. Is anyone surprised?
Sessions: "I told the truth when I lied. Honest."
7
next time he is called to testify, he will lie about lying about lying.
1
"Mr. Sessions said he could not remember much about Russian influence on the Trump campaign, except when he could block such influence."
Sessions was a prosecutor. He must know how it looks to not remember anything about a subject except to the extent his boss does something legal.
Speaking of perjury:
"What’s more, Republican leaders in Washington are discussing whether Mr. Sessions should launch a write-in campaign to reclaim his seat [from Roy Moore}."
Is there really no better choice than between the probable molester and the probable perjurer? Is Sessions a white knight because the crime it seems he's committing is for the betterment of Trump? Is that all it takes to be respectable in the GOP and/or Alabama?
Look, Strange came decently close to Moore in the primary, is only accused of being appointed by a criminal, which is relatively clean, and you'd think that primary voters would realize that they didn't make the best choice last time. So why not him? Or the democrat? Because Bannon? How messed up is this stuff?
3
With a memory as bad as Jeff Session's is, it is a wonder he can find his way home in the evening.
12
Harldy anyone of power or wealth goes to jail. Rules have been changed to protect the corporation over the people. Judges are being installed that will desimate our constitution. Liars, criminals, and authoritarians are in charge. Trump's swamp has turned this country into a banana republic. We have lost our Democratic system.
3
I wish I had as convenient a memory as Mr. Sessions every time my wife asks me about why the garbage was not taken out. But then my wife is intelligent enough to see through the lie.
3
Such a double standard for justice in this country. Can you imagine a poor African American man saying he doesn't "recall" committing a crime as he's hauled off to jail? They'd laugh in his face. And yet, a powerful white male says it (which seems completely implausible) and nothing happens. Frustrating.
7
The acorn doesn't fall far from the Trump Tree.
Trump said "I don't remember" 35 times in his Trump Univesity deposition and 24 times in a 2012 deposition.
Hey, Health and Human Services - quick! Funds for Alzheimer's research!
5
What is worse?
Perjury by the nations top law enforcement officer?
Or the Senate enabling a liar rather than upholding the constitution?
If "Contempt of Congress" is not enforced, then Senators you no longer belong to a governing party but to a gang.
To what end?
Is enriching your 1% donors really worth the loss of all human decency? .
4
Well is Session lying about his lies or is he lying about his memory? Or is he telling us that his previous lies are inoperative because he has thought up better lies? Mr. Sessions, a lie is a lies is a lie and is always a lie.
That is a concept that the present Administration and Republican Congress denies.
3
The idea that draft dodgin' Bob Goodlatte would impugn FBI agents that put their lives on the line for America every day speaks volumes. These men and women aren't hiding from service in Vietnam by hiding out in a political science program in Maine, and they don't get to ride a special choo-choo train to and from work. Show a little respect, Bob.
3
How convenient. Hey, do I get to remember only those things that exonerate me?
3
I was going to write that J. Beauregard Sessions is a lying little possums, but then I realized how unfair that would be to possums.
4
Sessions is lying, of course. Team Trump lie every day to the American people. They are a stain on this great nation that will last for a very long time...
2
So Sessions is adding another count of perjury to the long list of his lying under oath? Ignorance - and not remembering - are no excuse for the law.
1
Sessions perjured himself and he just got caught. Mr. Sessions, does the name John N. Mitchell mean something to you?
3
Why isn't this lying little pip-squeak arrested for perjury?
This whole thing has turned into a complete farce.
5
Either he's guilty or he has a faulty memory. Either way, he's unqualified.
1
Under oath, Sessions denies lying under oath. For those familiar with elementary mathematics, this is called a liar to the second power, or a liar squared.
5
Sessions had no knowledge of any Russian connections in the Trump campaign? well he's sure acting like a Russian - he suddenly knows nothing and didn't see anything.
1
Watching this is like reading Satre. There truly is no exit, at least not in political reality. The greatest tragedy is the interface this has with lives outside of politics.
1
It is sad that an Attorney General is more scared by the truth than his own lies.
3
“I met with Russian Ambassador Kislyak in my office for less than an hour & at the convention—I pushed back against Papadopoulos—& I made no response to Carter Page when he said he was going to Russia.” - and added "I did nothing dishonest".
See you in court, Sessions.
1
I for one, would be glad to see an investigation of the Rosatom deal. We Democrats don't realize how important it was in the election.But I'm betting most Trump voters knew about it and "Clinton Cash."
See the New York Times April 23, 2015 article about it, and the picture of Bill Clinton laughing wildly with Putin in Moscow in 2010 in this article.
A feeling of dishonest. Not qualified for this job for all Americans.
1
"Displays Unsteady Recall"... Thanks for the best laugh I've had all week! Incredibly creative way to call Sessions a liar. He's not perjuring himself, he's displaying unsteady recall.
It would be even funnier except that this guy has power of life and death over millions of Americans.
2
Session is a typical lawyer and politician.
He is evasive and as usual, he cannot recall anything.
How can such a person be appointed as the head of the US justice department? Really!
1
Why does Mc.Successions, not take the 5th?
Sessions: “The campaign was a form of chaos every day.”
So is the The White House .
Twice now Sessions has been caught lying, straight up. Twice now, his only excuse is, " I forgot about that until just now. " Twice now the strategy has worked. Keeping his story simple, it works in Alabama.
3
As a nation, we're in big trouble.
We have a president who lies to us on a daily basis, an attorney general who repeatedly commits perjury, and a Republican-controlled congress which refuses to do anything about either.
I hope our country can survive this dark time.
4
so this is the level of competency allowed in a position of national leadership in the US - a person in the legal field who has as terrible memory and doesn't takes notes or keep records - is truly amazing what we've allowed to pose as 'leadership' in this country.
yet all we are really interested in is having something newsworthy in the headlines so we can passively voice our opinion on social media. in the end we'll just roll over, call it 'the new normal', and fail to realize that we are continually capitulating to lower and lower standards.
Representative Steve Cohen, Democrat of Tennessee, paused the grilling to ask Mr. Sessions about a subject long associated with him: pot. Comedy ensued.
That's a pretty accurate portrayal of the pursuit of justice in this country these days. Now matter what the poultry have done, on the Washington Democratic barbecue they all come out looking like a cooked goose.
1
Can it be that the more he denies, the more he lies?
AG Sessions explains and defends his answer to Sen Franken's question about meeting with a Russian, i.e. Amb Kislyak, as a misunderstanding of the question. A single meeting rather than an ongoing interaction. When asked if it rained in Washington last week, the answer would be no, it did not rain all last week in Washington.
Good luck toMrSessions.
Jeff Sessions displays unsteady recall? At this point he seems very gun shy. But I think he is honest in saying what he remembers. Agree or disagree with him, calling his honesty into question or saying he lied is offensive. That's not his style.
1
Caution. If Sessions resigns or is fired by Trump, his replacement as AG will not be recused from the Russian matter. Trump will then have a clear pathway to fire Mueller. Sessions serves in a blocking role right now against a full blown constitutional crisis.
Any "clear pathway" Trump might find to fire Mr Mueller would bring about the end of Trump just as the Saturday Night Massacre accelerated Nixon's descent into oblivion. At least I would hope so. The appalling lack of people with integrity and ethics in Congress today might make things very different than it was during Watergate. There were enough Republicans in the House of Representatives back then who valued country over party to make Nixon's removal possible.
If someone testifies under oath that they didn’t lie under oath, why should we believe said person is telling the truth this time?
3
How can the Attorney General plead the 5th? How can he plead the 5th simultaneous with Executive Privilege. Was he planning a crime with the president? Why didn't someone ask?
2
Of course he can't recall things. His mind is totally occupied with his upcoming audition to reprise his role in the french film "Amelie 2".
Sessions needs to see a doctor about his memory problems.
4
It really riles me up when people all of a sudden, when their testimony is about to be called into question, recall events and conversations that almost all regular people would remember with absolute clarity.
Dump him!
4
Why bother with this circus act if he's only going to tell the Truth with a indictment - if then.
Mueller - hurry up please, there was no schedule but I fear your time is running out.
4
Well, so much for the AG being above reproach. His memory failed him in critical meetings, unsure if it’s wrong for the president to direct FBI to investigate his political opposition, unsure if its wrong for the president to make public statements about an ongoing criminal federal investigation.
Essentially, Jeff Sessions has determined himself unfit for attorney general.
15
Why should Trump or any member of Trump's cabinet and inner circle ever tell the truth? Lying has been very rewarding for all of them and there have been no consequences at all.
It's uncertain if any of them even know the difference anymore. Decisions are based on personal benefit and nothing else. If it's good for me, it's true.
Until there are consequences, it will only get worse. For us, not them.
8
If Hillary was the AG and said and did what we know Sessions said and did, she would have been convicted of perjury by now. Months ago, in fact.
Why does the GOP no longer respect the rule of law?
14
Even if there is no "collusion" proved they are all guilty of perjury and incompetence. They have to be the most self serving administrations ever with no regard for the truth in any aspect of government. They are undermining everything in our government including the offices they hold. It's interesting that in one of the most divisive points in our country like a couple of other low points it has been during a Republican Administration. (Nixon/Watergate)
Out country should have no place for these liars. Democrats are not innocent here but at least minimally on the surface their intentions are to serve for the benefit of the average American. ALL our government is messed up now. We need election reform and to get money out of politics - it's the only way.
7
I think what's important to keep in mind with the Trump administration is that the truth is not important to them.
Sessions would have been better off just saying he can't remember anything.
But few believe him when all he can remember are situations that make him and Trump look innocent.
All I see is a little man from Alabama who has made his fortune by being as racist, sexist and opportunist as necessary to keep him in power.
I feel like I'm back in the 1950s.
10
Simply heartbreaking that the AG can clearly lie to the committee and every Republican is totally okay with it.
7
"Sessions Lies Under Oath About Lying Under Oath"
7
The Republican committee did their best to stay away from any questions regarding Russian meetings etc. I was surprised they did not ask Jeff Sessions what was his favorite movie over the weekend.
8
Correction: Republican Committee members.
B-A-N-A-N-A here we come. The Republicans are digging deeper and deeper into the pockets of their donors....one dollar one vote. Sessions testimony would take on a very different character if there were two parties interested in upholding our democratic institutions, our laws and our norms....
This gets more sickening by the day....(and FOX should register as a lobbyist, with Pirro/Hannity as the its officers....)
5
Great pick up on the contradiction of not recalling the meeting, but being able to recall what he did at the meeting with respect to Papadopolous.
Not written but implied is the other blatant lie that Sessions is now caught in. There is a clear contradiction between saying he doesn't "believe it happened", with respect to Russian contacts in the campaign, but still being able to recall that he had shot down the idea about contacts in that meeting.
To anyone with a radar for a lie, telling a congressional hearing that you "don't believe" something happened just looks like an unneeded add on to just saying "I have no knowledge". It can be juxtaposed with just saying "it did not happen". That is a classic cover up that is only said by someone who actually knows otherwise.
5
Normally cream rises to the top. But in the case of Donald Trump and his team, it is a continuing case of toxic foam rising to the top.
Needless to say, Sessions continues to degrade the office of the Attorney General just as his boss continues the degrade the very notion of a manager.
4
Either Sessions was grossly unprepared to testify or just plain lying.
As a U.S. Senator, or former Assistant U.S. Attorney, or AG of Alabama one would think Sessions would have staff that kept meticulous track of where he went, who he met with, and when.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions committed perjury during his confirmation hearing.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions statement about his failing memory does not excuse his lies.
Sessions should have staff that has records of his activities for the last 2 years.
2
I get that Senators meet lots of people and can't remember most of those meetings - but when you meet with people who are going to connect you to the Russian government, during a campaign, it's not likely you forget something like that. More likely, he got caught doing something wrong and lied about it to protect himself.
3
"Oversight" hearings almost never result in oversight. They are effete, designed to provide a spectacle for public consumption, one for which all of the actors are well rehearsed. Our only hope for real action is from Mr. Mueller, who seems to be skillfully applying all of the tools at his disposal.
3
The CBC ran a clip of this here today and I watch it.
While not terribly keen on your Mr Sessions, I did feel a bit sorry for him when he was questioned by Sheila Jackson Lee. Her rudeness was appalling. She asked legitimate questions and then rudely stepped on his sentences and tried to shout him down continuously when that poor creature tried to answer her. She was very Anderson Cooper-like in her interruptions. It was painful to watch.
Where are her manners? But then again, perhaps this is what the American congress is now like on occasion.
1
Conducting an investigation into the Clinton Foundation is a great idea. I realize it's an attempt to divert attention from Trump's woes. But maybe we can put this nonsense to rest. We might even restore the facticity of facts and reestablish our ability to distinguish between small misfeasances and outright frauds.
An investigation into the Clinton Foundation would be never-ending and would put nothing to rest. Not for the Republicans. How many pointless Benghazi investigations did they hold? If there was any credible evidence of criminal acts committed by the Clinton Foundation the Republicans would have been shouting it from the rooftops years ago. It's just another distraction from the Mueller investigation. Don't fall for it.
2
So former FBI Director James Comey can remember what he had for lunch on a random day in 5th grade (and probably took notes)... And his former boss and current Attorney General can’t recall what happened last month or at the only foreign relations meeting during the 2016 campaign.
Possums have better memories.
5
I can feel a variation on the Saturday Night Massacre of the Nixon era coming on strong and fast. The current mess is not going to get better and Trump will keep bouncing along in pratfalls and gaffes until the nation is twisted into an even sorrier state. Before long, a sufficient number of people will finally cry, "Enough!" It's just a matter of time.
3
Make note of this date. November 14, 2017. This is the day when the United States died.
When it stopped being a democracy that believed in truth and justice. And instead became a dictatorship completely at the whim of a cruel madman and his corrupt minions.
There is no longer any real rule of law when the so called department of justice becomes the punishing arm of the dictator. Moving against those it considers enemies of the dictator, whether they're real or imagined. Striking hard against any who would speak the truth or push for real justice. Or, simply get too much attention.
Evidently during Trump's meeting with Putin this week, Putin put his foot down and ordered Trump to act more like Putin. Immediately.
And as usual, Trump obeyed. He is now openly making himself into Putin's image.
5
Between Sessions and Moore, the Alabama School of Law is really graduating some distinguished alumni.
17
Remember watergate hearings? "I don't recall" or "best of my knowledge"....might as well plead the fifth. Meanwhile, I like the panzer tank metaphor. That's what coming.
2
The AG is lying. The President is lying. Mr. Putin has evidence that he’s holding over the President which could be extremely damaging and might cost him his presidency. That’s why the President defends Mr. Putin and is terrified of the Mueller investigation.
What other plausible explanation for his and Session’s behavior exists?
7
We already know from the documents released about the Papadopolous meeting jay Sessions explicitly said "No"
when Papdopolous offered to arrange a meeting with Putin. That is established in Mueller's legal record.
When Trump says the Russia collision theory is a hoax cooked up by Democrats attempting to delegitimize his election, this appears to support him.
I guess you just don't want to hear the truth. Nothing so far has supported anything that comes out of Trump's mouth. I will admit that Trump is a much better liar then Sessions. It does not matter if Sessions only lied half of the time; he will be indicted for his lies, not for when he told the truth.
1
Even more appalling is the fact that Alabama voters elected Sessions to represent them in the Senate 4 times. Politicians of low moral character such as Jeff Sessions and Roy Moore make me question the judgment of all Alabama voters.
6
Sessions can’t recall what he can’t recall. Or maybe he is just lying about lying.
5
What happens to a country who's whole governmental output seems to be concocting schemes to dodge the truth? Does it make the country more homey because the stories are clumsy in childish kind of way? After all, no adult actually believes Jeff Sessions and his gang of little squirts. But we can all excuse him his fibbing I guess because America doesn't matter much anymore?
3
Let's give Banana Republics some credit---would a dictator put someone like Sessions in a critical job as Attorney General? No those jobs are reserved for real expertise---now, after the lower level jobs are given to children, Sessions might find something in tourism, education, or maybe urban planning.
1
It seems that when it comes to Russia, Jeffrey could/would not recall. How did he become AJ of the US?
2
And he does this as if he is exempt from his own judicial policy.
I mean, imagine someone in his Alabama courtroom pulling this nonsense, who isn't his friend.
Yes, it is that easy.
2
"I don't recall" repeated ad nauseum. "I cannot comment on that" when asked about whether anyone at the WH made suggestions about the CNN/AT&T merger....which is a resounding "yes" in my opinion. Also Rupert Murdoch's name came up twice. This administration makes the Nixon administration look like a bunch of boy scouts.
3
All these male egotist sessions sent Martha Stewart to jail for lying.
Now Sessions belongs in jail. I hope he decide to put himself in; because a real judge would sent him for quiet long, provided he/she is not nominated by Trump.
2
Is he now lying under oath about lying under oath?
5
Well, since we have Trump on video in front of one of his campaign crowds encouraging the Russians to hack Hillary Clinton's emails, I think that about says it all regarding whether his campaign was behind such a move.
8
Why so much comity and deference on the part of Democrats toward Mr. Sessions? The man LIED under oath and people like Rep. Conyers are describing his previous testimony as “incomplete.”
1
When a liar says I didn't lie but the evidence is there that he lied then the case is set and done. It doesn't matter that he is the attorney general. His credibility is already torn. He is not forthcoming or transparent. His actions over the last year show that he has a different agenda and he is willing to cover up the facts.
3
Sessions is looking ahead at the thought of being a US Senator once again. How he must miss the Trumpless old days. So, how does he get out of DOJ and back into the Senate? How can he get Alabama Governor Ivey to appoint him to what is really the end of his previous Senate term?
2
If the members of the House Judiciary Committee have what feels like 30 seconds to address Sessions, forcing them to rush through their questions, and Jeff Sessions can deny answering whichever questions he chooses and run out the clock by giving long meandering answers with little to no consequential information, then what on earth is the point of this hearing other than political theater? If Sessions can't or won't be held accountable for his previous statements, his actions, or his refusal to answer questions he's legally obligated to answer, what does this accomplish?
14
There seems to be a pattern. Jeff Sessions is consistently unable to recall matters of what anyone in a similar position would consider critical. Either he’s lying, or the extent of his claimed memory loss proves that he’s not got requisite capacity to serve as US Attorney General.
15
If Donald is forcibly removed from the White House, I expect that Mr. Sessions will announce that he does not remember meeting him.
19
The Russians used a "mind eraser" on Trump's campaign staff! That is the only explanation for missing testimony. The one they used on Jared appears to be permanent! It even worked on Trump, who has one of the greatest memories of all time.
11
Had Sessions been a standard-bearer of American jurisprudence, the first time he discovered he had erred in asserting he hadn't met with any Russians during the campaign, he would have gone and searched his memory, his conscience, his prior calendars, all campaign-meeting summaries and all other such notes of his own and others. He would have done all that an upstanding member of the U.S. Senate and even previous member of the bar could possibly require of himself or others, to ensure he would never again be wrong in such matters. But the way he keeps re-parsing his answers shows what a snake-oil salesman he is. Not a truth-teller but a truth-sayor. Sessions is not aware of, doesn't recall, is speaking to the best of his ability, can't reveal, won't say, et. al, etc. God help us if this is how he has been upholding our justice.
8
So Mr Sessions had a "chaotic" job at the Trump campaign? Welcome to the normal work week for all of us out here trying to survive in the cut throat, make a profit at any cost, do more with less workforce Mr. Sessions. Only working in chaos does not excuse us from telling the truth about our jobs, once we are sworn under oath before Congress.
Sessions says he "forgot" a discussion about the Trump campaign possibly accepting offers from Russia to dig up campaign dirt on Trumps' opponent in the 2016 Presidential election? If a US Senator, and now the Chief Law Enforcement Official of the USA can't recall a conversation about an action that bordered on treason, then he has no business being a Senator or Attorney General.
The ghost of Richard Nixon (Haldeman, Ehrilchman, Mitchell et., al., lying under oath to Congress during the Watergate hearings and saying, over and over, they "do not recall"), continues to haunt this country.
11
To what has America came?
We need a caretaker government that has never emailed.
Never done business.
Knows how to save the world but not give all my savings to needy people.
Perhaps never registered or miss registered.
Has no tweet thing.
In lieu of that we do need 60 vote filibuster.
1
"Unsteady recall"? "Selective recall"? Given that Mr. Sessions keeps insulting Congress -- and thereby us -- like this over and over, hearing after hearing, isn't use of the word "lie" and its variants not only appropriate, but long overdue?
6
He remembers what is convenient in that moment...
A sad day when the AG of the USA is no more credible than a kid caught with a spray paint can standing next to a freshly tagged wall "I can't remember where the can came from ..."
5
From the beginning (and from the top down) this administration has shown that it's unfriendly with truth. It's also shown, as if on cue, that it manages accusations by passing the buck and by scapegoating either Hillary or the previous administration. Thus, why should anyone any more believe what they have to say about Russia's meddling or anything else. "Tell a lie once, and all your truths become questionable."
2
Quite possible that Putin didn't meddle in the U.S. elections. He simply asked a subordinate to do it for him.
Which meeting was less than an hour?
"“Mr. Jeffries, nobody, nobody, not you or anyone else should be prosecuted. not me accused of perjury for answering the question the way I did in this hearing,” Mr. Sessions said. “I have always tried to answer the questions fairly and accurately.”"
We have surpassed the Clinton standard long ago Mr. Sessions. Your last act in office will be to appoint a second special counsel. Then Trump will ask for your resignation and cut you loose.
1
Mr. Sessions of Selective Memory Fame strikes again. Okay, you're a busy man. You can't be expected to remember everything - only those things that put you in a good light. But, moving on, surely you follow the common practice of having your meetings entered in your diary, where the date, time, location, attendees, purpose of the meeting all appear. Right? And you also follow that other common practice of taking notes at meetings? Ya' know, Mr. Sessions, we'all weren't born yesterday.
6
The "I don't recall" response has become the modus operandi defense today.
8
If Mr. Sessions "displays unsteady recall on Russia-related matters" for the good of this country, he should resign now. However, because this entire administration behaves as if living in a twitter universe, this travesty will keep going until someone with authority and legally (of course) stop this truly nightmare and disrespect for all of us, the citizen of this country.
10
Perhaps Sessions can "forget" that he should be in jail for perjury?
4
None of this matters one whit while a large percentage of Americans are under the spell of Fox News. The facts reported in this article will never reach them; the reality of the Republican party's deceptions will never enter their minds.
As long as the least educated members of our society are allowed to be systematically conned by the propaganda machine of Fox News and its affiliates, Republicans will continue to push through their agenda of wealth transfer, ecological destruction and white supremacy. Go read Fox News right now, and every day, and realize that 30% of Americans are under Trump's thrall because they are purposefully being conned into accepting a fake reality.
Fake News is indeed the threat.
11
"I don't remember, I don't recall" Ha ha ha, and I got a bridge for sell in Brooklyn for you! ;)
3
The conclusion of Mr. Sessions' testimony is that he is mentally impaired. He has only partial recall of important events. Is that a good characteristic for a Trump cabinet member?
3
Stop staring at me like a bird of prey
I'm all mixed up, I got nothing to say
I don't remember
I don't remember
I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything at all
I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything
Anything at all
I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything at all
I don't remember, I don't recall
I got no memory of anything
Absolutely anything at all
I don't remember
3
But he did remember that he "shot down" the suggestion that Trump and Putin might meet. There in lies a wee problem to the claim that he has no memory.
Hmmm. And this is the guy the "establishment Republicans" in Washington want to have take back his old Senate seat, if Roy Moore gets elected and needs to be replaced? How morally bankrupt IS the GOP??
2
As I feel and am older each precious day, I'm so glad I lived eight years in an Obama administration.
The money being wasted on Trumpism and his reign is truly sinful.
6
The Attorney General may forget himself right back into the Senate. That twinkle in Donald's eye relies on the Governor of Alabama to appoint Sessions to the Senate seat after they oust Roy Moore. Then Donald can have his new AG fire Mueller.
But... the good people of Alabama may surprise us all and elect a Democrat. That would ruin everything.
Why do they call him "honorable"? The nameplate should read "Dishonorable Sessions".
3
This testimony by AG Sessions left me gobsmacked. It left me wondering how much a soul costs. It left me wondering exactly who is our chief law enforcement officer -- the man or woman who will put the truth and the rule of law above all other considerations. AG Sessions has now forfeited the benefit of the doubt I've given him since his appointment.
3
I've been listening to AG Sessions lie all morning.
What a perfect lying attorney general for our liar-in-chief Trump.
2
Pretty sad to see the top law enforcement official in the U.S. repeatedly perjuring himself in front of Congress while simultaneously showing himself open to pursuing the president's political enemies. Banana republic - full stop.
234
Ol' Jeff Sessions' greatest (only) contribution: fleshing out the concept "squirrely."
8
There are abundant reasons to dislike Mr. Sessions, but let's give credit where credit is due: he really shot down all suggestions that he should appoint a second special counsel, insisting in reply to Jim Jordan (R-OH) that there would have to be a factual basis for doing so. Kudos to him for dismissing the "whataboutism" as nonsense.
7
I had to turn the TV off as I could not listen to him continue to lie about his recollection of events. Does he not take notes when he is in important meetings as he has so much trouble with his memory of events?
Does not speak well of the head of our justice department that he does not keep notes when he has a poor memory or recollection of events!!!!
11
The witness's body language, hesitations, facial expressions and other non- verbal communication, let alone what he actually says, should indicate to an average observer that he is clearly not obeying his testimonial oath. Additionally, the already sizable hole he dug for himself in prior Congressional testimony has deepened and widened by today's dissembling, rambling, "I don't recall" responses. And to think that he is the chief law enforcement officer for the country. John Mitchell has been resurrected!
15
Then Sessions just committed perjury. No surprise at all.
22
"I do not recall" and "To the best of my recollection" were statements heard often in the Watergate hearings. When I know I'm going to be asked about events that I have a sketchy memory of and when I realize it is an important issue and very important that I answer honestly, I will refresh my memory by consulting any records I or others have and talk to others who were present at the event. Sessions has plenty of records and plenty of staff and attendees or witnesses to almost every event in his life. He has had plenty of time to refresh his memory.
19
One would think that these criminals could come up with another excuse for lying other than saying "I don't recall" and with that response, they might as well stamp the words "guilty" on their forehead.
I "very much recall" an Enron executive giving that same response during a senate hearing on the antics of the company, he eventually got 20 years in the "crowbar hotel".
25
Sessions ought to resign. The number of Trump campaign staff at the level of engagement with which Sessions would have had frequent contacts who interacted with Russians is proving to be not a hand full, but scores. That makes his testimony incredible. His recusal was done because the traditions of a lawful government demanded it but Trump has nothing but contempt for both law and government, never having to work through anything difficult on his own causes him to undervalue his own dependency upon them to even live let alone remain rich. But Trump is a thoughtless person, so no surprise. Sessions evidently feels divided loyalties, he wants to be part of Trump's team but he cannot forget that the law is what keeps society from descending into chaos. He should resign.
14
Sessions had contacts with the Russian ambassador, but most Senators had had contacts with the Russian ambassador. However, there is nothing unlawful with having contacts with Russians.
Nothing will come of this unless Mueller steps up with an indictment...which isn't going to happen. They'll get Fall Guy Flynn and perhaps...perhaps...Kushner but they're not going to go any higher unless somebody rolls over.
2
Jeff Sessions...doing his best impersonation of John Mitchell...
"I don't remember"
Echoes of Watergate.
16
No one so afflicted by amnesia as Jeff Sessions should have any high government office. How is he even able to remember how to function at work day to day? Perhaps he still recalls how to lie.
31
That creepy smile that punctuates even his most somber declarations suggests to me inappropriate affect and faulty neurobiological wiring.
As much as I enjoy Saturday Night Live's parodies of Sessions, I do think it is time for him to go; he has clearly dishonored himself. And I suspect that Kate McKinnon will find other equally susceptible figures in this administration.
10
In most professional organizations, meetings have a coordinator or a convener. They have written agendas. They have topics written down on those agendas. They have a schedule which parses the most precious resource, time, to these topics. They have minutes which describe the meeting. They have action items that people take away from these meetings. People take notes, so as to store important information outside of their body, for later use, recall, and prompting. So, I suppose absent any of these normal features of a meeting, these guys were (are) just winging it?
15
Winging it is basically the entire Trump presidency. Sadly. Bigly sadly.
1
I think that's an entirely fair assessment, John.
1
If Sessions is refusing to answer questions relating to Russia because they involve a matter from which he has recused himself, then he should also refrain from any discussion of the investigation of the Clintons that Trump has ordered. Despite what the article says, Sessions did not recuse himself only from investigating Russian influence over the election, he recused himself from "any matters" that were subjects of any presidential campaign in 2016, including Clinton emails and the Clinton Foundation.
The exact wording of Sessions' statement of recusal on March 2 is as follows. "I have decided to recuse myself from any existing or future investigations of any matters related in any way to the campaigns for President of the United States."
If Sessions attempts to revisit any issue that was brought up during the race for the presidency, he should be held accountable for violating his pledge to stay out matters he helped to politicize. Given his feeble memory, he is likely to need to be reminded of the scope of his recusal.
18
My God, I did not realize this. I very much appreciate your post.
1
He often has trouble recalling things. He can barely recall all of the 2016 election and part of the beginning of 2017, according to him. It's amazing he's able to function at all with his level of memory loss.
13
Oh, I see. It's the "I don't remember" gambit. It's probably the only appropriate legal remedy.
11
An appropriate response by his future jailer would be "I don't remember where I lost the key to Beauregard's cell."
Jeff Sessions' selective memory serves his self-preservation instinct well. His veracity not so well . . .
12
Lemme see if i got this right: Jeff Sessions remembers exactly what he said in a meeting he has no memory of. That is one weird needle to thread.
19
Either the Attorney General has debilitating short term memory loss or he's been lying. Either way he seems ill suited for the job.
11
How many "passes" is Sessions going to be afforded by Republicans for continuously lying or having major memory lapses regarding the Russian involvement with the Trump Campaign. They have lost there objectivity and their allegiance to the rule of law in favor of protecting their own and the power they now have. Our form of government and our democracy is at risk.
8
Try to imagine, to recreate the scene where then Senator Sessions swore his loyalty,his fealty to Lord Donald. Was he on bended knee? Did he kiss a hand or Ring? It is beyond imagining to think he got the job without something of the kind. Promises were made and the promise to always tell Lord Donald the truth wasn't enough to get the job for Comey.
4
He doesn't remember anything unless he thinks the questioner already has proof that it happened.
8
"What’s more, Republican leaders in Washington are discussing whether Mr. Sessions should launch a write-in campaign to reclaim his seat. If that does not happen and Mr. Moore prevails in the Dec. 12 special election, there is talk of expelling the jurist from the Senate and prevailing on Alabama’s governor, Kay Ivey, to appoint Mr. Sessions back to the Senate."
Sounds like a graceful way for Sessions to get out of Trump's wake while saving some face
1
And, to get an Attorney General loyal to Trump who has not recused themselves from the Russian investigation.
I feel like this is obvious, but I dont know the reason why they wouldnt: Why don't they do a polygraph test?
3
Isn't this same line of defense Nixon used? That didn't work out so well, now did it?
2
Sessions appears to be very unsteady on the truth in general.
3
A commenter made up this quotation (purportedly said by Sessions today, but not really):
"And at that meeting that I don't recall ever happening, I shot down Papadapoulos's idea of a meeting between Trump and Putin."
What Sessions ACTUALLY said was:
1. I don't recall the meeting. We had lots of meetings, and I have no reason to doubt that this was one of them. I just don't recall this particular meeting.
2. I consistently shot down the idea of a meeting between Trump and Putin (or anyone representing Putin).
Maybe Sessions is lying, but nothing he's said today indicates that. Credit goes to the Times again here: It's "live-streaming" Sessions' House testimony. Watch it for yourself, rather than rely on made-up "quotations."
2
It's so interesting to see how quickly Sessions is ready to throw Moore under the bus, now that it's politically expedient to do so--all Trump cohorts take note, once again. He's a sleaze, both of them are, but it's a lesson.
And I really: I don't recall? Is he serious?
3
You know with the Republican obsession with wiretaps and unmasking in these hearings... makes me wonder what they are worried about it uncovering... Nunes/ Flynn, Rohrabacher/ Flynn, RNC involvement? They are clearly completely unconcerned about the attack by Russia and freaked out about the inquiry - they are serving up our country on a platter to the Russians.
3
To appoint a "special counsel" for any investigation except those that are directly involving the President and his cabinet is absurd. The only reason you take investigations out of the justice departments normal process is the potential that its leadership (or the President) may not want to fully investigate an issue. Are we to believe that Trump and Sessions would in some way try to protect Obama and Hillary from the consequences of their alleged misconduct?
1
Sessions should be arrested and charged with perjury. He should be jailed, no bail, tried, and when convicted, serve time in the worst federal penitentiary in the country.
1
A mockery of the law and due process.
Thats what the Attorney General of the United States represents.
2018 elections are coming. Make them count.
5
Sessions--Lawyered up, master of the evasive, he remains mum, even if lying under oath.
This man clearly displays he doesn't have a good enough memory to be in this country's top legal position. He should step down or be impeached.
2
Someone should Beauregard the Elf on a shelf somewhere safe where he can't do any more damage to truthfulness and Democracy.
1
Sad commentary on the state of our government when Kate McKinnon playing Jeff Sessions is more credible than Sessions himself!
108
I would respectfully suggest that understanding and remembering the law is critical to the functions of Attorney General. One who cannot remember much of anything from recent events is obviously disqualified and incapable of properly fulfilling that role. Jeff Sessions is simply not qualified or capable of doing his job.
116
Yet he represented the role of AG pretty well when rebuking the notion of appointing a second special counsel, as well as when discussing Roy Moore. I don't think we need to resort to hyperbole (i.e. that he's utterly incapable) in order to find fault with many of the things he does.
Oh, he can remember alright, John. His ability to lie under oath without batting an eye is what makes him supremely qualified for a post in the Trump administration.
In my entire lifetime, I cannot recall even one administration so full of liars, scoundrels, and morally reprehensible incompetents. And not even under Richard Nixon were the House and Senate so depraved and morally bankrupt...
Horrified by Sessions, Russia, Trump, et al. But I wonder about the statement that Sessions met "multiple" times with the Russian ambassador. Wasn't it two (that we know of)? I don't like to see sloppy language around something as important as this. It's an old rhetorical trick and not a good one. I don't think the information needs to be "fluffed" to make our case. Perhaps I'm wrong, though. Was it more than two?
17
2 is a multiple of 1, also 2.
The Comey testimony referred to a third meeting with Kislyak and there have been "suggestions" that the NSA has recordings of a couple of phone calls as well. The problem with leaks from "Meuller Time" is that prosecutors typically do not tell everything they know until they are in court. REight now we are seeing only the information that would be required to get a true bill from a Grand Jury. Instead of "fluffing" it is more like "defluffing."
1
Ladies and Gentlemen, let me repeat myself:
HILLARY.
CLINTON.
LOST.
She didn't lose because "Russians," or anyone or anything else, "meddled." She lost because she WAS "The Establishment," and because everyone in America already knew what "another Clinton Presidency" would turn out to be. She faced someone with no prior political experience at all, but who was (and, still is) communicating a message of "Think Different." Her election was doomed from the first day that Donald Trump announced his candidacy.
2
No need to repeat yourself, but I do have this question;
If HRC lost, then why is the current President so obsessed with her and Obama? It is not the media that keeps their names in the news, it is your very own guy in the White House.....
220
She won the popular vote (the battle) but she (and this great country) lost the war.
Now we have the Worst. President. Ever.
So yeah, Hillary should be president, but she isn't, and now we are suffering - tax cuts for the wealthy, bloggers given lifetime appointments in the courts, Russian collusion in the election. What a great country this was, before the last election.
Make America sane again.
10
Evidence is mounting. Are you saying that we should just stop the investigation short of determining, one way or the other, the truth?
6
Jeff Sessions has a convenient memory when it serves him to 'plum forget.' Lawyers are trained to keep notes of meetings and conversations so this does not speak well for his lawyerly abilities, and he's the AG.
This entire administration has convenient memory lapses. But we see they are liars, hypocrites, certainly not loyal to our Constitution, and stupid as well. Their collective stupidity is what may be the undoing of all of them starting with Trump.
Let's hope.
87
Sessions has a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card from 45 so he’s not really worried. Thus, no real reason to try too hard to remember anything. Why should he? And public shaming means nothing to these people.
60
I'm not sure I understand the obsession with Hillary Clinton by Trump supporters. I was a Bernie supporter and then a Hillary supporter. I realize Hillary lost. Most people on the left, right and independents realize Clinton lost.
I also don't understand why everybody on the Trump team would lie about contacts with Russians if they don't think it was improper.
If anything that Mr Sessions has said is true; he should deemed incompetent; and should be forced to resign for medical reasons.
72
If Sessions isn't lying, he needs to submit to a medical evaluation to assess the severity of his apparent cognitive decline. It's one or the other, either of which having an impact on his fitness to serve as the Attorney General of the United States of America.
88
Hillary Clinton said I do not recall to 21 of 25 questions & I do not remember anyone saying she was mentally unfit to run for President
Our government is run by a group of apparently very forgetful individuals. In such a detail-oriented vocation, it does make one wonder if they're up to the task.
58
"I had no recollection," said Sessions.
Now where did I hear that before...
37
Just before "I'm resigning 'to spend more time with my family.'"
Wow, and this was a news report. Imagine the contempt that will drip in Opinion.
6
Drip? The contempt should be a waterfall.
Also, the contempt should be made official, as in 'Contempt Of Congress'. Sessions is refusing to answer straight questions from a congressional committee, by making a mockery of the proceedings.
'Contempt of Congress is the act of obstructing the work of the United States Congress or one of its committees.' It's as simple as that.
3
perjury perpetrated by a govt official is a federal crime..it is more than newsworthy, it is seditious.
1
Reporting contemptible behavior should not be mistaken for contempt on the part of the reporter,
1
"Nothing would please Trump more than to ... finally get someone in the AG's position to oversee and/or shut down Mueller."
Only two things about Mueller threaten Trump:
1. Maybe Mueller will find something to charge Trump with.
2. Trump might try to fire Mueller or interfere with his investigation.
If either happens, Trump will be toast.
So far, however, Mueller has come up with nothing about Trump (or at least he hasn't told us about it), and Trump has made no effort to fire Mueller or interfere with his investigation. Maybe that will change, but let's not forget that that's how it is right now.
No question that Trump wishes Mueller would just go away, but that's not the same thing as trying to fire Mueller or interfere with his investigation. And so far Mueller hasn't come up with anything to charge Trump with. Maybe he will, but he hasn't so far and, frankly, his indictments of Manafort and Gates, and the Papadopoulos prosecution, don't look terribly promising. Maybe there's more there than meets the eye, but not much meets the eye.
2
You appreciate that the Special Investigator operates confidentially, right? Which is to say that even if Mr. Mueller does have incriminating evidence on the President and other members of his cabinet, he would not reveal that information until he is ready to file charges, yes?
1
The low-level indictments ALWAYS come first. This is a classic trial approach. The reason? Because they want all the dominoes to fall. They want the low-level employees, the ones who Trump et al. are not likely to stick their necks out for, to turn against the higher level ones.
In fact, the low-level indictments and the way they proceeded is a strong indication of more to come. If there wasn't likely to be more, they would have closed the investigation and capped it with the brought forward indictments.
Sessions has lied or at least not been truthful under oath in previous congressional hearings.
So this time he would be honest?
No. We should conclude that he is a political driven and ideology oriented AG as well as he lacks of integrity and honesty.
The quickest way to send him home is to make Trump one-term president, so all these unsavory people will all go away once for all.
17
I really hope that Sessions appoints a general counsel to investigate the Obama administration. This will clear the way for the next administration to appoint a general counsel to investigate Trump's administration. Trump will be a private citizen with no hope of stopping or influencing the investigation.
14
Let’s investigate the Trump administration now before it’s too late. The damage done by these administration criminals to just the health and safety of Americans should come first. Rolling back clean air and water regs for the profit of this group of criminals should be a start.
Every day brings about more depressing news about how Trump and the Republicans are barreling over past political "norms" because it is slowly dawning on them that they can get away with it, thanks in large part to Trump's Twitter feed and the Republican propaganda machines known as Fox "News" and Breitbart. Whatever morals Sessions might have once had, he has since made a deal with the devil. As such, he is sticking with his denials because he believes (rightly, it seems) Congress won't hold him accountable. The hypocrisy and pure moral emptiness of today's Republicans is beyond repulsive and has become increasingly demoralizing. I fear for our future, and wonder when, or if, the nation will ever get back to the point where truth actually matters.
38
"I had no recollection of this meeting until I saw these news reports,” Mr. Sessions said.
Put differently, Sessions (and the Trump administration generally) has no intention of even considering giving truthful testimony unless they are backed into the absolute smallest possible corner. Even then, they may simply choose to reiterate a demonstrable falsehoods about the Trump campaign having had no contacts with Russia or outright refuse to answer questions on the basis of a presidential privilege that has never actually been invoked by the president (the actual owner of that privilege).
All this from an administration that ostensibly prides itself on a commitment to "law and order." More and more it is apparent that the Trump administration only believes in a notion of law and order that allows it to punish its clearly identified enemies, including: the Clintons, Obama, any policy or idea in any way associated with Obama, Robert Mueller, James Comey, anyone in the LGBT community, Muslims, immigrants in general, minorities or women seeking to obtain (or simply preserve) their rights and any unflattering and/or truthful media organizations.
As applied to themselves, however, it is not apparent that the Trump administration recognizes any laws.
31
I don't think there is enough clothes lines in Washington DC to hang out all the politician's dirty laundry. "It rarely happens'or perhaps never occurs, that a person exalts himself from humble station to great dignity without eather force or fraud, unless indeed he attains it by gift of hereditary succession. I do not conceive that force alone ever sufficed; but we find that cunning alone has sometimes succeeded." -- Machiavelli
5
Unfortunately, if Sessions is replaced, we can only anticipate worse from this poor excuse for an administration.
9
This obfuscation is quite extraordinary and the contradictions and half truths are so blatant and so obvious. But the terrifying fact is that by tomorrow the news agenda will have moved on and the media focus will be elsewhere. All this is a reflection of Trump's biggest achievement - the widespread lowering of standards in civic life to such an extent that public outrage is dissolved by the caustic drip, drip effect of scandal and cover up.
14
Maybe Sessions should announce his retirement since he doesn't have the adequate memory capacity required to be the head of the Justice Department.
"I don't recall..."
"I don't recall..."
19
This is at least the third time Sessions has lied under oath.
He should resign immediately.
28
I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that the Attorney General has a lapse in memory. Yet, he remembers minute points of law.
18
Selective amnesia seems quite a stretch by AG Sessions who can clearly recall shutting down George Papadopuolos's attempt to collude with Russia, but somehow forgot to ever mention that he chaired such a meeting and a conversation about working with Russia occurred in the very presence of Donald Trump. When added to the Republicans' latest Benghazi-like attempt to deflect attention and blame from the seriousness of potential--and let's now call it what it is--treason to an already discredited narrative of Clinton collusion with Russia to permit the sale of Uranium One to Rossatmom in exchanges for donation is an outrage. This latest distraction from a truly "high crime" is only adding to the "willing accomplice" narrative of a Republican Party willing to sell out our democracy with a "blame other" and "immoral equivalence" defense.
12
That these people (Sessions, Trump, et al) are willfully obfuscating what is in the best interest of our country is endless infuriating.
Why do we pay taxes to support people who treat our country this way?
VOTE GOP OUT.
24
We would not be in this mess if Americans just counted all the votes.
In the 2016 presidential election, there were officially about 3 million votes that were simply not counted. The reason you haven't heard much about this is because uncounted votes are not reported as news.
The votes are rejected, for petty, absurd reasons, that fall into three main categories: 1. provisional ballots, 2. invalidated absentee & mail-in ballots, and 3. in-precinct votes which are classified as, "spoiled,” (considered unreadable, or improperly marked). The uncounted votes are rejected by a machine, or discarded by a human being.
The "provisional ballots" are given to registered voters that were inadvertently, or illegally purged from the voter rolls as a result of Kris Kobach's, Interstate Crosscheck. The majority of the disenfranchised voters are minorities (black, Asian, etc.) and are likely Democratic voters (big surprise).
This is the cold, hard reality of our great American experiment. As much as you might think the issue of Russian interference matters, counting all the votes matters even more.
The Russians don't count the votes; Americans count them. Russians certainly don't enact draconian voter suppression laws, or engage in the felony of purging voters from the voter rolls A.K.A caging. Russians don't ignore the huge disparity in the exit polls; Americans do.
I've had enough of the Kabuki theater. Report the uncounted votes (the silent majority) or, America is doomed.
3
Sessions must go. If I or most Americans acted like Sessions did at our place of employment, we would be shown the door. Why is this any different?
10
Perhaps Sessions can remember Reagan using the "I don't remember" ploy. He certainly didn't "forget" to make Hillary the subject of an investigation for the 113,874th time. Seems like no one in Trump's administration can remember anything. People "forget" to fill out security forms correctly. People "forget" millions of dollars in offshore accounts and investments they own. People "forget" how many houses they own and companies they started.
I also wonder if Trump "forgot" to do his taxes right?
The only thing any of them seem to remember is that Hillary needs to be investigated, taxes on the wealthy need to be close to zero, global warming isn't driven by humans, and Trump had the largest win and inaugural crowd of all time.
Pathetic, and extremely dangerous liars the lot.
8
What an on-going, disgraceful spectacle Sessions and the GOP are making of themselves, all because they're afraid of losing Trump and his base... who are openly attacking them. You'd think they'd see the writing on the wall and go for Trump's impeachment.
4
I didn't remember it until I remembered it.
5
"“I had no recollection of this meeting until I saw these news reports,” Mr. Sessions said." He's an old guy...memories begin to fade after awhile...that will be his next excuse.
3
The indictment against George Papadopoulos reveals that he proposed using a relationship with he cultivated with a London professor—who is Maltese, not Russian—to arrange a meeting with Russian officials purported to have email incriminating Hillary Clinton or a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. However, the indictment plainly states that these proposed meetings never took place. The Papadopoulos indictment suggests that Jeff Sessions told the truth when he said he was not aware of any meetings between member of the Trump camping and Russians to discuss interfering in the 2016 election. Even if the meetings had taken place, they would not have violated the Federal Election Campaign Act. It is not illegal to solicit foreign nationals or foreign government for disparaging information about political rivals.
Why do they keep asking Sessions the same questions, knowing full well he'll give the same answers? His repeated appearances to testify are a waste of time and money.
1
Famous last words of a politician. Reagan didn't remember anything about Iran-Contra either.
6
The Clinton's have been investigated more than any other politicians I can think of. And despite years (and how many wasted taxpayers $ to discredit a political rival) of trying to come up with something the GOP has produced exactly what?
One extra marital affair.
Congratulations to the hypocrites.
5
Contrary to popular opinion I believe that current events are providing our Democracy with a very valid stress test and that our Democracy so far is performing swimmingly. Right before our eyes.
Investigate Trump. Investigate Clinton. See where the investigations go and if warranted lock them both up. But not together.
2
According to your latest update from this hearing, the AG said BOTH that he didn't remember a meeting with Papadopolous AND that he told Papdopolous he was not authorized to represent the campaign in discussions with Russians.
So does that mean there was a second meeting the AG had with Papadapolous in which Papadopolous discussed Russian campaign-related contacts, if the AG can't remember the meeting that media has reported?
1
Jeff Sessions is all in with this administration and has nothing to lose by continuing to lie outright or by omission. The House Judiciary committee proceedings along with its Russia investigation are just kabuki theater. Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation is the only path to the truth of what actually happened. In the meantime, I anticipate that more and more Americans will be offended by his total lack of candor, to say nothing of honor, and throw him under the bus just as he did the Republican candidate for his replacement.
2
Sessions is a liar to anyone with possession of any intuition, observation, and listening skills. He defends his own lies too vociferously to be telling the truth. Recollection? He had multiple meetings during the campaign discussing contacts with Russian officials. Only when a photo surfaced proving his connection did he change his story, and now defends his selective memory. Yet he denied any connection, rather than say he couldn't recall. "Stupid is as stupid does." First action to stop digging one's own hole is to throw out the shovel. Mr Sessions isn't done digging....apparently.
3
The lady doth protest too much, methinks. If Sessions really didn't remember, all he had to say was he didn't remember. But to get all huffy and scandalized and defensive...? He's lying.
315
A chronic liar at head of Justice, working for one of the worsts liars in history.
I'm afraid we're getting closer to mass violence in the streets that will make 1968 look like normalcy.
Anyone with a memory as bad as Mr. Session's has no business being the attorney general of the United States.
584
Session said he forgot the details of a meeting in which he rebuffed a campaign worker's proposal to set up meetings Russian officials. He would have gladly reported the meeting if he had recalled, because it shows the Trump campaign rejected proposed meetings with Russian officials. When Sessions says he doesn't conversations or meetings, he implies they never took place, not that he has forgotten them.
2
Hillary Clinton responded with I don't remember 37 times when she was asked about her private server. Someone with a memory so bad has no business being Secretary of State or POTUS.
1
mmmm fried sessions for lunch, hope he gets burned bad.
37
Talk about having selective memory -- Jeff Sessions is a joke.
Just cut to the chase and get on with the Mueller investigation with those who actually remember things.
96
There you have it, Mr. Jordan clearly indicates his desire to use the Justice Department to go after Robert Mueller. They desperately want to discredit the special counsel because he is getting close to the traitors who worked with the Russians to undermine our free elections. Desperate and Deplorable.
173
Openly lying to congress for a third time while the DOJ morphs into Trump's personal hit squad for his enemies list - all under the oblivious eye of the Republicans in the driver's seat. The precedents being shattered under this criminal syndicate are very close to administering a mortal wound to democracy - even one as phony as ours. It was nice experiment while it lasted.
149
Well said sir. And sadly all too true.
3
Sessions is a walking advertisement for early onset dementia
61
@Eric - there appears to be an epidemic among the Republicans from the top down.
1
Right up there with Ol' "I Cannot Recall" Reagan!
You are quite kind in giving this guy the benefit of the doubt.
If you haven't already read Mueller's statement against Papadopoulos, I recommend it. It was published by the NY Times last Monday (11/6).
It struck me that Papadopoulos was a well-meaning but lowly guy in Trump's campaign who hoped to establish a bigger role for himself by arranging a meeting between Trump and Putin, or at least between two people high up in the Trump campaign and the Russian government. No such meeting ever happened, of course -- no dispute about that (or at least nothing's ever been reported about such a meeting). The email exchanges reported by Mueller's people suggest that the Trump campaign's attitude toward Papadopoulos was essentially to pat him on the head, give him an "A" for effort, talk about his naivete behind his back, and ignore him. Draw your own conclusions, but be sure to read the Papadopoulos statement before you do -- don't just accept the NYT's characterization of it.
I have almost no doubt that Trump and Sessions met Papadopoulos or that he participated in a meeting or two, but it wouldn't surprise me that neither remembers him. He seems like a nice guy, but certainly not memorable. Mueller should pursue this and every other lead, but I can't imagine him getting anywhere with this one.
28
Memorable or not, I should think that anyone mentioned by name by a presidential candidate as an expert in any field and then seated at a roundtable with the candidate could not, by definition, be considered a lowly guy in the campaign.
18
If a young associate in my office proposed something so shocking and improper (according to Sessions’ own characterization), I would be sure to remember him, and it.
25
Oh sure! Trump claims to have no contacts with the Russians but can't remember when one of his hirelings mentions to him the possibility of another contact? Well, I guess that he has so many Russians contacts that he just can't remember them all.
9
Sessions is having difficulty "recalling" his actions as a traitor to America, plain and simple. He need to be thrown in jail for betraying the American people.
39
The article makes the key points that
– Sessions actually led the March 2016 meeting in which Papadopoulos discussed his Russian ties and suggested setting up a meeting between Trump and Putin
– Sessions claims to not remember that meeting
– Sessions does remember nixing the proposed Trump/Putin meeting and then telling Papadopoulos that he was not authorized to represent the campaign in such discussions
Direct conflict.
I think that goes well beyond even strained credibility and is evidence of giving an untrue statement to a Senate committee. I seriously doubt any member of Sessions' own former group will believe that testimony, and I rather doubt that any FBI investigator or member of a grand jury would either.
When you are willing to not tell the truth under oath to your own colleagues and friends and the people of the United States as Attorney General, it is time to pay the piper. The short-term problem is that if Trump fires him, he will only hire someone who confirms to him in private that they will be willing to fire Mueller.
That is where we are heading. How the GOP handles this will determine our fate in the short term but the fate of the GOP in the long term.
43
Lock him up...
43
Please do not forget Trump and Team!
Why do all "good christians" lie about everything?
70
As a citizen who is greatly concerned about the direction our democracy is taking under the Trump administration I would say that the partisan attitudes in the United States government are destroying our country from within. While congress spends countless hours on investigations, crucial matters such as this so called "tax cut", that will devastate so many middle class families and improving healthcare are treated with a let's get something done attitude instead of real concern and careful review. All I can say is "G-d help America."
43
Honesty???? "I don't recall".There are so many things that he can't recall that perhaps he, like his boss, is suffering from memory loss. I don't mean that unlikely but both of them are at an age where it becomes a problem. And now it is a problem for us.
47
Sessions has no credibility period.
61
A man with such an unreliable memory is unfit for Attorney General.
77
“There are significant concerns that the partisanship of the F.B.I. and the department has weakened the ability of each to act objectively.” Running this statement through a translator app gives: "We should have a system like Putin's."
Textbook definition of "corruption of language." Translation:
- "There are concerns" means I have concerns, but not most other people.
- "Partisanhip" means when they investigate my people, but investigating the Clintons is certainly not partisan. All men are created equal, but my men should be more equal than others in the eyes of the DOJ.
- "Weakened" means not yet fully corrupted by Trump's election
- "Objectively" means coming to the the conclusion I have alrady come to. Oh just lock her up.
In any case, nice way to show your support for our top law-enforcement agency, just like our intelligence agencies.
26
Putin's system of law enforcement is to assassinate his opponents unless they are too well connected then he sends them to prison instead. I'm sure the Trump would do the same if he didn't have the US Constitutions and an independent Judiciary to slap him down. After all the people that Trump admires most are Putin, Duarte and other ruthless dictators.
Sessions is corrupt to the core and is destroying the Justice department from within. He should be investigated for treason along with the rest of them. Shame on the Republican Party to allow this to happen to our Country.
156
It has been the main function of the GOP to do this to our country since Nixon's 68 campaign.
6
The Chinese have a saying to the effect that 'the blade of grass that stands too tall will be mowed down' applies here. Sessions, like many of his fellow white male Republican senators from southern states, could have remained a senator for life until carried out of the Senate feet first when he died in office. Instead he rose to become Attorney General under the least qualified, most egocentric, least loyal president. So sad!
6
I was amazed and, frankly, disgusted by Mr. Sessions smirking and killing the clock. He "tried" and apparently failed to answer the questions posed. This level of arrogance is simply an expression disrespect. Of course, Issa is part of the team and played the game. Issa's questioning was like watching the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team as he and Session passed the ball back and forth from behind their backs and around their waists.
9
Why all the evasive language about 'inconsistencies' in his testimony? He lied, continues to lie, and quite likely is even more involved than we already know.
How is it possible that he 'don't recall' the meeting but clearly recalls shooting down a summit meeting between candidate Trump and Putin? How does that square with his statements that no one talked to the Russians with his knowledge? Do they take us to be fools or idiots? How could he 'shoot down' a proposal to meet with Putin unless somebody had met with the Russians and come up with the proposal?
It's time to put aside the niceties and call a spade a spade. This is a gangster administration shaped in Putin's mold and Congress is increasingly complicit in its gangsterism.
39
"And at that meeting that I don't recall ever happening, I shot down Papadapoulos's idea of a meeting between Trump and Putin."
42
I smell a perjury coming
15
Don't look at the man behind the curtain....investigate Hillary!
9
To quote the great Steve Martin shtick about "How to make a million dollars, tax free": First, you make a million dollars. Then, you don't pay taxes on it. Then, when they come and ask why you didn't pay taxes, you say "I forgot!!!"
Except, this isn't a joke.
24
Some one ought to ask Jeff Sessions about whether he has any knowledge of number of bathrooms in his home. He probably can't recall that detail.
Imagine if this conduct was on display from a Democratic Administration. Republicans would be outraged beyond description, apoplectic with blood vessels bursting in their eyes. FOX News and Right-Wing screaming about Constitutional violations (as once was the situation with an intern having stains on her velour dress).
America, this is what we've become. Make no mistake about its path: Republicans and Right-Wing mendacity at its worse.
34
Selective memory I often sharpened when someone catches you in a lie. The only thing different here is that usually the person will beg forgiveness and that doesn’t seem to have happened yet.
I think that Mr Sessions is protesting his innocence (or forgetfulness) a bit too much.
19
After Moore is elected to the Senate (and he will be, by a huge majority) will the Democrats in the Senate be smart enough to refuse to vote to oust him? Trump has been furious with Sessions since he recused himself from the Russia investigation. Nothing would please Trump more than to have Sessions depart the AG's office voluntarily and go back to the Senate, so Trump can finally get someone in the AG's position to oversee and/or shut down Mueller. Since it requires a 2/3rds vote to oust Moore, if the Democrats refuse to vote to oust him, the GOP is stuck with Moore, and Trump is stuck with Sessions.
330
Trump would not be stuck with Sessions. He could fire him or pressure him to resign even if Moore is elected and not removed from office.
Astute! That's where my money is. Now let's hope the Dems see this ploy too.
1
Current polling does not support the "huge majority" claim. Jones currently leads by about 4 percentage points.
Interesting point about the Dems sticking it to the Republicans by keeping Moore in place. Still, I'd rather not see that theocratic lunatic in power; maybe I'm still a hopeful American rather than a partisan cheerleader.
Why is the Senate allowing Sessions to refuse to answer questions about his conversations with Trump? He has not, and cannot assert any privilege for these conversations and Trump has not asserted any presidential privilege. There is no legal reason for his refusal to answer such questions. Sessions should be held in contempt and jailed if he will not testify. The Republicans would do no less if there was a democrat in office.
75
The heads of federal agencies can assert executive privilege on behalf of presidents because they are executive branch employees.
If past performance is any inducation, the Attorney General's contempt of Congress and his refusal to cooperate and answer questions truthfully could be the outcome of today's hearings.
21
Of course Trump wants Sessions to replace Moore. Then he can replace Sessions with a loyal AG.
13
Jeff Sessions is use to skating on patches of thin ice. But Beauregard is also a lawyer and knows when the ice is no longer safe to skate on. Sessions, already gave a hint to President Trump by recusing himself -he won't be the last man standing when the music stops. When there aren't anymore chairs to sit in Jeff will still have his in the Senate.
3
Ultimately, voters own the disfunction overwhelming American politics. Voters accept the lies told to them and continue to reward the polarisation that has grown since Newt Gingrich began implementing the neo-liberal agenda with attacks on democracy and killing bi-partisanship. Mr. Sessions is but one example of the narrow conservative mindset propelling this destructive force forward. He won't step up nor step down because he is now successfully bidding for the neo-liberal caste. It falls to voters to effect change, but for that to happen, they must develop a clearer understanding and outrage about what is being done to them. I don't yet see meaningful cracks of realisation to create fissures across the conservative landscape deep enough to undermine this sad movement.
192
Agreed, for years far too many Americans have bought into the Republican mantra that "government and taxes are evil", this, of course, at the expense of everything else. Far beyond what has been the disturbing direction that conservatives and Republicans have been heading, when it comes to the vitally important issue of healthcare, after 70 yrs. of haggling, little has been solved and in fact, it is headed in the wrong direction, all happening when the answer to the problem has been out there all around them for decades. It is just a matter of voting for and electing politicians that have the political will to do the right thing. Jeff Sessions is the antithesis to this type of politician, he is a person of the 1920's.
With a growing secessionist movement in California, Texas, Oregon and other
states, although not permissable under the constitution, it is becoming pretty clear that, unless something drastic occurs, the State of the American Union could be in serious doubt going forward.
The American Revolution was fought to get rid of tyranny, now 241 years later it has returned.
1
You are unlikely to see those 'meaningful cracks of realisation [...] create fissures across the conservative landscape' until the noisier part of the opposition are quieted by sensible souls who give Trump neutrals,
Hillary disgusted and Bernie mistrusters an opportunity to reflect on what they have wrought. I doubt they'll stop, look, or listen until the picking, poking, and pandemonium ebb a bit. At the moment the din is too deafening and too constant for them to reflect. They merely react defensively and stubbornly.
1
Actually, blame the framers of the Constitution who had to allow the slave states to count their slaves kin order to get more electoral votes. Clinton won the popular vote but lost the "slave vote" in the Electoral College.
Oh great more "I don't recalls" and perjuries that go unpunished. When will our congress tell trump's administration they are not gods and are accountable for their actions?
13
I can square Jeff Sessions' service to the Trump Administration with his Republican politics and Alabama's political and cultural climate. What I can't square it with is his being a Sunday school teacher and governing board member of his United Methodist Church in Mobile.
I would suggest that he might read or reread the works of Dietrich Bonheffer. They might give him insight into the ethical and moral issues he seems to ignore.
8
It is becoming apparent that Jeff Sessions knowingly lied to Congress. He is the Attorney General of the United States and a lawyer. He knows what perjury is. Martha Stewart and others had to go prison for lying to the feds. Mr. Sessions has been all about law and order while in office, his behavior should be exemplary, and he and should be held to the same standards as others, and certainly should not be above the law.
As for being a replacement for Roy Moore, again, if he is found to have perjured himself before Congress, then he should not be allowed to serve in the capacity of Senator.
22
When these investigations are completed - if ever - and Russia is officially certified again as Public Enemy #1, what a great step back for mankind that will be. Maybe the former USSR borders are still be visible in places so reconstructing them won't be too difficult and painful as it was the first time.
In what universe do the untrue statements made under oath by Sessions not constitute perjury? Talk about debasing the rule of law!
32
As a US citizen I feel privileged to be so well and candidly informed on the basic political issues facing this nation.
The Republicans tell me that all Democratic politicians are to be distrusted. The Democrats tell me that all Republican politicians are to be distrusted. I only can believe them both. Being close to government they must know. I thank them for sharing.
On this matter of unfair taxation …
The Republicans tell me that the Democrats have skewed the tax burden against those like me in order to cater to the poor. The Democrats tell me that the Republicans have skewed the tax burden against those like me in order to favor the rich. I believe them both.
Again, being close to government, they must know. I thank them for sharing.
Neither the Republicans nor Democrats tell me much else, so these must be the basic issues. It is well to have been so sagely advised, and in such a balanced manner, before deciding whether or not to bother going to the polls on election day.
2
Good gracious, the man is the Attorney General of the United States, and here he is, called before a House Judiciary Committee to explain a number of "inconsistencies" in his previous sworn testimony concerning Russia. Lying before the House Judiciary Committee is perjury, a felony.
The Attorney General.
Let that sink in for a moment.
44
Yes, an attorney general who is knee deep in the US-Russia relations.
The GOP will rue the day they support a Republican Administration assigning a special prosecutor to investigate a past administration of the opposition party. It is a precedent that will haunt them for years, if not decades. I cannot imagine the number of special prosecutors that could be created by a Democrat President to investigate the Trumps, all of the Trumps. In other words, the "Trumps" will become for the Democrats what the "Clintons" have been to the Republicans all of these years. It will haunt them for a generation. Unfortunately, rational thought left the GOP long ago.
24
The Repubs still have to worry about real fallout from the Bush/Cheney Admin and 9/11...especially if they are going to take this tack of attacking the administration prior to your own.
A mighty petard is awaiting those who should stumble that direction, all the better to hoist themselves with!
Now Jeff Sessions says that the GOP nominee's campaign was "brilliant" and "chaotic" and has "no recollection" of conversations that happened 18 months ago. "Chaotic" describes the current administration to a tee but "brilliant", not so much. Session is bobbing and weaving and doing his best to be pinned down about his misleading statements. He will not be forthcoming in today's hearings.
6
Beautiful Jefferson; I hope you break the record for encore appearances and love to watch you dance!
4
Behind the “I had no recollection of this meeting..." tactic is claiming the 5th...and right behind the 5th is what US citizens deserve to know.
7
If the Attorney General of the United States has to refuse to answer question about his actions by claiming the 5th, he cannot continue at the Attorney General. The Country's "Top Cop" is claiming that answering truthfully might subject him to criminal prosecution. No one should be allowed to be Attorney General or work in ant other capacity in the Justice Department who feels a need to invoke the Fifth Amendment before a Congressional committee.
1
Given that his memory is failing badly, Sessions should seriously consider retirement.
17
I don't recall, I don't recall, I don't recall except, of course, when it came to the question about DACA and Pres Obama's part in it. Then his memory of every utterance was quite impressive.
23
So besides Moore who would have been sworn to uphold justice, we have another who lies when it is convenient and does not report his meeting. And he is our vaunted Attorney General. The swamp just got deeper. Thanks to Donald Trump and Company.
11
He is lying. Again.
Enough with the comity of the Senate; he must face perjury charges.
15
I can barely bring myself to read these articles anymore. It seems that our nation is now governed (ruled?) by the most corrupt group of men in its history. And, it appears to be impossible to stop,them.
The damage, tangible and intangible, may be irreparable.
95
could we say:
"old, white, men in history"?
Jeff Sessions has already testified and there will be no more information that has not already been revealed from him. He has told them everything and they are just wasting our time and money that could be better spent.
What they need to ask Mr. Sessions is when he is going to form a council to investigate the Clinton Foundation/uranium deal. They certainly need to delve into that investigation and stop probing Mr. Sessions who has nothing new to say. We should be more interested in finding out more about the Clinton involvement and how much money was donated to them. This is where the investigation should be going.
2
I beg to differ. Mr. Mueller is just getting to the good stuff.
That guy is a Patriot - in my opinion.
2
Nobody should hope that Trump sacks Sessions....he will just appoint someone who will actually shut down the Mueller investigation.
6
Remember when Hilarys' camp was in hysterics that Trumps supporters would not accept the election if she won? Well, what you are seeing is the exact opposite, the denial of President Trumps election by any means possible. Endless investigation of the non-existent "Russian" collusion is one more shameless attempt at this same game. The Democrats will forever be besmirched by action.
2
Wait, it was just revealed that Assange told Trump Jr. to not accept an election loss to Clinton. That Trump's camp should protest that it was "rigged."
Now we know the truth: Clinton's team was not "in ysterics," but rather in reality.
I don't "deny" the election. I just wish to know to what extent the Trumpites worked with our Russian enemy to give them advantages in winning the election. There's a difference.
1
Should we be worried that the plan for dealing with a Roy Moore victory could include the option of using the Senate to simply deny the man his seat? I’m no Republican supporter and Moore sounds like an absolute scoundrel, but ignoring the results of a democratic election seems like the wrong road to start down.
2
The Constitution allows he Senate and the House to refuse to seat anyone elected when that body believes that the person is unfit. The Framers of the Constitution were afraid of demagogues getting elected.
Perjury? Will they let the Senator from California go after him? She was a prosecutor and does make him nervous.
6
Probably not at the House Intelligence Committee hearing........
What to watch for: the deflection of any question asked by a Democrat. If it's a woman asking the question, he'll interrupt her and sneer with contempt. He will offer no more information than he already has. He will not be charged with perjury. He will walk away unscathed.
What to watch for: the downfall of our democratic process under an administration with no regard for the law.
19
I am waiting to hear the following question and
Session's answer: On your oath today for what lawful purpose were members of the Trump campaign staff, including you, having any communications with private citizens or officials of the government of a hostile foreign power, which is clear that they did, when as a lawyer you must know that accepting anything of value from foreigners in an American election is illegal?
18
Just as long as the questioners do talk too fast, he gets flustered easily and can’t keep up.
2
So far all that we've learned is that everyone associated with the Trump administration, including Trump and his family members, are certified liars. Of course we've known this.
Trump does not understand or care for the constitution, separation of powers, the law nor how he conducts himself in office. He has no self-control, no restraint and deep resentment of established institutions.
So far no legislation has been passed. All we have seen from this administration is an offensive against anything Obama and also offensives directed towards civil rights, minorities, immigrants, health care, the social safety net, the judiciary, and agencies of the government including the FBI, CIA and others. Trump is dismantling the EPA, voter rights and the Department of Education, trade and defense agreements, and anything else that he views as obstacles to his personal agenda.
There isn't enough Duck Tape in America to go over Donald's mouth. Now Mr. Sessions is under the gun and we can expect excoriating tweets and outrageous comments by Mr. Trump. I predict that Sessions will resign or be fired. Maybe if there are sexual assault charges we'll get a little diversion...but no changes in behavior.
There's a mid-term election in 2018 and just a year later the 2010 contest for the presidency will begin. There's some hope.
12
Sessions is representing Justice? Please.
Justice is not blind, obviously, if this perjurer is not prosecuted for his crime.
How can anyone have faith in our institutions if our so-called leaders are walking contradictions?
A lying top cop, a lying president who is owned by an enemy nation?
Is this a comic book? Where's Superman? Mighty Mouse? Spidey?
Save us.
5
"his relationship with Mr. Trump never really recovered after the attorney general’s recusal"........
Nor did ours.
1
Will Sessions be indicted for perjury after he steps down from his Attorney General position in order to take the Republican mantle up again as the Senatorial Candidate from the State of Alabama? Could be interesting.
1
Am I living in Neverneverland? I was under the impression that Sessions was forced to resign as AG because of his luxurious spending on routine travel while on official and non-official occasions using the taxpayer's dollars? It is so difficult to keep up with the news about the double-dippers in this swampy administration. How did he slip away from that oozy mess? Obviously I missed that neat cozy Southern-style maneuver of his this time.
1
Senate Judiciary Committee also known as a preview for next week's SNL.
2
Why should our government spend good money investigating alleged collusion between Hillary and the Russians when all we need to do is ask Mr. Putin whether the Russians did anything wrong or had any bad intentions when they bought Uranium One? Wouldn't that pretty much take care of the issue?
Confused....
1
beauregard has no honor. he has forgotten, if he ever practiced, that a lady or gentleman does not lie, steal, or cheat
2
Can we all just agree that this is a Gangster Presidency? Between Session's porous memory and total lack of recall, and Trump sicking the the Justice Department after political rivals, the rule of law no longer applies. Trump is not President, he is Mob Boss in Chief.
14
So, NYT reporters, I have one unanswered (or simply unaddressed?) question regarding Sessions' meeting with the Russian Ambassador: who else was in the room? My 30-some years experience in the public sector tells me that someone as senior as Sessions would be accompanied by staff. In fact, a competent staff would not allow -- or would do everything in their power to prevent -- a one-on-one meeting with someone like Kislyak. So which is it? If they met without witnesses, it's stink rises to scandal level. If someone else was present, why have they not testified.
4
He didn't remember the meeting, but now remembers it, but not what was said exactly, but remembers pushing back against Papadolpoulos.
Not the best liar, is he.
7
....he'll continue to be incapable of remembering anything germane to the purpose of this inquiry
5
This feels a lot like John Oliver's Whataboutthat?" comments on how Trump dodges and avoids. Hillary is NOT president and is out of politics. All this does is serve as a distraction from the current administrations woes and (again) chew up a lot of taxpayer dollars. Hillary has been grilled to death on Benghazi and her emails. What more is there to learn? And, whether or not Uranium One should never have happened, it is beside the point of what is currently going on with the Trump Administration and Russia. This is a definite strategy on the part of Trump / Republicans to change the topic. Well, I've got news for you. We out here ain't gonna let it change.
7
Jefferson Beauregard Sessions, III is not sitting in any hot seat in a Congress with a Republican Party majority. Jeff has no plans nor fear of ending up like Saddam Hussein nor Moammar Qaddafi for his perjury and treason about his Russian collaboration, collusion, cooperation, collusion and conspiracy.
Jeff plans to follow in the wake of the Confederate traitors Jeff Davis, Alex Stephens, Bob Lee, Nate Forrest and Judah Benjamin. All died a natural death. The Republican Party of Lincoln has become the party of the Democrats who became Dixiecrats who become Republicans by Nixon and Reagan and Bush and Bush. Trump can fire Sessions and Mueller and pardon all of the traitors.
Jeff will fumble through on forgetfulness and playing the old gentlemanly fool. The ethical obligation of the legal profession is to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Jeff gives the essence of impropriety.
6
Bob Mueller the Bloodhound is following the money.
Jeff Sessions can lie but the money doesn't...
3
It's clear by now, that Mr Sessions is a liar, and not a very good one at that. He isn't able to square his testimony with REAL evidence that points to his actually knowing about Russian contact ... he's not going to be able to pull a Gipper and claim "I can't remember" ... Gipper barely got away with that one, and should have been removed from office because of his alzheimers, but wasn't. Mr Sessions doesn't have alzheimers to hide behind, and will so be caught in his lies, and hopefully the charges will BEGIN with perjury.
1
"Sessions Says He Doesn’t Recall Talk of Russia Contacts"
What's the penalty for perjury when the perjurer is the nation's attorney general?
4
Because Sessions is not allowing trump to pull his strings, trump will get rid of him particularly since it appears that Sessions lied under oath or simply has a terrible memory. The notion of manipulating the scene to get his seat back again just plain smacks of corruption. Under this administration we are becoming more and more a third world country.
3
If Jeff Sessions has such a poor memory then he is not competent to be Attorney General and should immediately be removed from office.
3
Funny how memory works. And the Senate will buy it.
Maybe Trump can nominate INCITATUS as the next Supreme Court choice too. It won't make much of a difference in our judicial system.
I don't believe Mr. Sessions has recall of anything other then what ever Trump said recall.What must it feel like to constantly bow before authority?
A swift kick below the belt might wake Mr Trump up a bit,even Mr Sessions!
And Roy Moore doesn't recall all those young girls. "I don't recall." is the last refuge of the guilty.
2
To make a tangential point, I hope that when our current government's behaviour is analysed in future, sufficient attention is paid to the deplorable conduct of the Senate and the House.
Trump and his fawning Cabinet are almost too-easy targets: we don't expect even a modicum of dedicated acumen from them because their self-serving pasts predict their destructive futures (and our ruined fates too, alas).
But in every equally substantial issue -justice, environment, human rights, just taxation, foreign affairs, and on & on- the Legislature has been disgustingly supine when it has not been enabling. Some say it's because conservatives are obsessed with locking in another round of wealth transfer, but I think that's too simplistic.
It's that this Republican-majority Congress has been shown and shows again to us that there is no lie so dreadful, no misrepresentation so evil that it can't be sold as truth to a large part of the American people. Not only in Alabama, but everywhere in this country.
That's what concerns me, that careful perversion of justice.
578
Will there be a future from which to analyze from--i admire your optimism.
Lock her up! Right Jeff?
2
It was reported in the NYT that Sessions is considering hiring a special prosecutor to investigate the Fox "News" story about Uranium which supposedly happened when Mueller was FBI director.
It's obvious that Sessions is looking for an excuse to fire Mueller because he is one of the people guilty of colluding with the Russians.
6
It's plain as the lengthening nose on Mr. Sessions' face that he is a liar. Does he really think the American people are so dumb as not to see it? Why is this liar still running the Justice Department?
10
Trump, Pence, Sessions, Tillerson and other Putin moles devolved the entire GOP to a Russian Klu Klux Klan with its Grand Kleagle in the Kremlin.
Better to have one more racist Republican traitor in the Senate than a racist traitor continue as Attorney General of the United States.
Best yet, prosecute, convict and imprison all the Republicans. Perhaps, give them the option to surrender the American citizenship they dishonor and ship them to Russian police state that they wanted to replicate in the U.S.A.
3
I declare, General Beauregard, how you do go on.
5
Even his name card is a lie.
1
Jeff Sessions has already been shown and proven to be a shameless liar, no credibility at all.
7
Clinton lies about consensual sex, which leads to impeachment led by a republican pedophile. Sessions lies about treason, let’s make him a US senator. Conyers wife is jailed for openly demanding and taking bribes. This country is a banana republic and Vladimir is laughing. I argue with people who claim voting doesn’t matter, that nothing will change. They were right.
6
"Jeff Sessions Is Testifying About Russia Contacts in House” Correction: Jeff Sessions Is Lying About Russia Contacts in House.
7
Can someone please remove the 'Hon' from his nameplate? It clearly doesn't apply.
4
Sessions clearly lied to Congress in previous appearances. He attempted to conceal his lie through nuances of wording. He believes marijuana users are bad people. He's against gay marriage, and homosexuality in general. He places the Bible above our Constitution. He is an anachronism straight out of the 1950's. He is wholly unqualified to be judicious for the American public he serves. And finally, to protect himself and Trump, he will launch an investigation into Hillary Clinton for every ridiculous morsel of propaganda Fox News has broadcast. Thanks Alabama for Sessions and Roy Moore. You really know how to pick'em.
5
Good Lord!! How many more times does Sessions get to lie to Congress before he is disbarred and removed from the office of Attorney General?
3
He got some pointers from Ms. Lynch obviously.
I'm waiting for one of the panelists to stand up and shout: "You lie".
32
Social lies are one thing, and everyone is guilty of making them from time to time, but lies about working with an enemy foreign government to attack our democracy in order to bring down a political rival have consequences in addition to all parties involved being criminally investigated for money ties as well as possible charges of treason.
(Thank you GOP for your creation of our Frankenstein monster, Trump. He is wreaking havoc daily with the villages surrounding the WH, and you are allowing this to happen despite our outcry. You have brought us to the most shameful period yet in our American history.)
The end result of the magnitude and multitude of all these lies is that Americans cannot trust this WH administration on any level, and we need to clean house starting with the removal of the most prolific pathological liar of them all, and danger to our national security, Trump.
We are all dangling precariously in a daily high wire act, and there is no security net below to catch us when we fall. We need this circus to pack up their tents and leave town.
18
Shakespere would reject this script as too transparent and unbelievable
7
Interesting to see this story right beneath the article about the Sessions justice department opening an inquiry into the Clinton Foundation. Poor Jeff Sessions, trying so hard to get into the "good graces" of a narcissist like Donald Trump. Sessions will do anything to please his master, the least loyal of any POTUS who ever ran the for that office. If Sessions doesn't quit soon he will be put in a sack and drowned by this most disloyal of all masters.
10
Why bother? Watching Sessions in front of Congress is akin to watching a Law & Order episode for the umpteenth time. We always know the ending because the ending never changes.
4
I think maybe the Justice Department should be looking at Creepy Donald Trump Junior.
It is starting to look like creepy, greasy Donald Junior, should be put in a prison cell right next to Michael Flynn when it's all said and done.
No collusion or coordination with the Russian's through WikiLeaks looks a lot harder to ignore and disprove.
It is becoming more certain that we have an illigetimate and unfit President.
13
Donald J. Trump, Jr. is a loser.
2
He's testifying (lying) right now about his Russian contacts, while he simultaneously initiates the Russian Uraniam distraction (from 8 years ago), and as his desperate southern buddies are trying to reseat him in Alabama. Get them all out of there.
8
If Representative Robert Goodlatte, the committee’s Republican chairman, questions are any indications of the Republican on this committee idea of getting to the bottom of Jeff Sessions lying, it's a joke, a self-serving joke!
4
"Mr. Sessions denied that he lied ... no recollection of this meeting until I saw these news reports ... hazy on the details ... 'inconsistencies' between [Sessions'] statements and those of the two campaign advisers ... ' ... the Attorney General gave answers that were, at best, incomplete ... ' " Summary: That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
1
We have an attorney general of the United States who has twice lied to Congress! Does it get any worse than this?
9
What do these people have in common? : Flynn, Trump Jr., Sessions, Manafort, Page, Stone, Papadopoulos. Answer: they all worked with Trump to get him elected and they all lied about their association with Russia. For some, they have also been proven to conspire with Russia about releasing DNC e mails stolen by Russian hackers who gave them to Wiki Leaks. And there is no doubt that some of these men also conspired with Russia to target groups and individuals with thousands of ads on Facebook and other social media sites. Meanwhile Donald Trump praises Putin, says he believes his denials, and refuses to sign off on Russian sanctions imposed because Putin invaded Crimea, continues to send “little green men” to Ukraine, murdered a man who revealed his cronys’ mass theft, and meddled in America’s elections. And a dossier showing Trump could be blackmailed by Putin, written by a former MI6 senior operative with an impeccable reputation, sits ignored. Put it like this: if the Democrats were in power, they would be moving to impeach a man who colluded with Russia to get himself elected. No proof? People have been executed for less circumstantial evidence than this in the US.
17
No wonder he'd rather pursue a Hillary non-issue that was exhaustively researched and put to bed seven years ago.
5
The Clinton investigation is an intent to remove Mr Mueller from the Russia investigation.
Sweet Tea Session will be very syrupy once again!
1
Didn't we do this same thing a month ago. What a waste of time.
1
Will he lie yet again? How many times will he get a pass on perjury?
6
Dear Mr. AG; please define the word: lie.
5
Doesn't Sessions worry about what God will say to him when he rises up to Heaven and gets to sit by Her side?
5
The Trump Administration is utterly corrupt to the core. How amazing that mere rhetorical fabulism keeps that machine running and on track. Facts mean nothing now, and such a large sector of America has bought the tweets and lies and contortions so swiftly that it truly boggles the mind.
6
Why does Sessions always look like a deer caught in the headlights?
5
Lying under oath is perjury.
Perjury is a felony.
Oh what a tangled web he weaves .....
3
This country's judicial system is in trouble, we have an Attorney General who is much Dumber than I ever thought or gave him credit for being, when Jeff Sessions sits there and can't answer a simple, Yes or No question, it's embarrassing.......it is turning into a SNL moment for Jeff Sessions.
3
The fawning partisanship is humiliating. The fact that they put the word "honorable" in front of Jeff Session's name makes a mockery of our entire nation. I am ashamed.
3
I just find it amazing that the FBI, which very likely won Trump the White House, is now being portrayed as a stooge for the Democrats.
3
America's top "justice" official demonstrating just how broken our judicial system is. If this government didn't make special exceptions for the crimes of politically connected, rich white men, this lying scoundrel would already be behind bars.
The Republican Congress who seems unphased that he blatantly lied under oath are just as culpable. Why was it an impeachable offense when Clinton lied under oath but when Sessions does it, he is invited in for a "do over." And how are they not troubled by the pattern that half of Team Trump has needed similar mulligans on their sworn testimony regarding Russian contacts? Since when is "oops, I forgot about that one..." an acceptable defense?
What a disgusting travesty this is. We are watching treason happening on live television while half of Congress looks the other way.
2
Russiacan Party 20202! Keeping the world safe for Oligarchs everywhere!
Watching the hearing, what a little man. He fits into the Trump administration like a glove. Dishonest as can be.
6
If Jeff Sessions lied about his contacts with Russia during previous testimony why in the world would he start telling the truth now?
308
This Administration, in its entirety is an Ongoing Criminal Enterprise - & Trump is the “don”
To get more legal ammunition to get rid of the guy. Congress does not like being lied to, and lying to Congress is a felony.
Don't worry, he isn't.
As if inviting Mr. Sessions to 'testify' will amount to anything beyond bluster, denials and attempting to turn the attack back on Democratic members of the Committee. Just watch. He will never admit to wrongdoing or making an error. Ever.
16
Sessions tries to selectively tell some "truth" but not the whole truth. He is a partisan hack in the very important position of Attorney General. He should be removed from office.
1
Sessions has learned how to behave from his master in the White House.
In May, just five months ago, the NY Times reported "Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered federal prosecutors to pursue the toughest possible charges and sentences against crime suspects..." So, we now have the nation's highest ranking law official lying to the House Judiciary Committee on live TV and he also perjured himself in writing. How long a sentence should he serve? May I suggest six years? Two years in a super max prison, two years in a medium security prison and two years in work release. Then he would be in a position to help reform our criminal justice system.
50
Sessions didn’t remember meeting with the Russian ambassador twice. Both times were public record with many other people present. Now he can’t remember Page saying he was going to Russia. Now he can’t remember George Papa saying he wanted to go to Russia. Maybe he can’t remember any of this because at the time it was so trivial. He probably can’t remember what he had for breakfast back then too.
I wonder when the DOJ will start to investigate the clames of sexual misconduct by Trump?
395
I'd have two questions for Sessions.
First, why are the prosecutors who are now investigating Clinton-related matters reporting to you? You previously said "I have decided to recuse myself from any existing or future investigations of any matters related in any way to the campaigns for President of the United States."
Second, why are you still serving? Why haven't you resigned yet?
371
If Moore wins the vote the Republicans have a happy choice for US Senator from Alabama, a pedophile who defies the Constitution or a perjurer and obstructor of justice who defies the Constitution. But after yesterday's explosive accusation, yearbook signature and all, Moore will not win.
20
"But after yesterday's explosive accusation, yearbook signature and all, Moore will not win."
As I said all throughout 2016, never misunderestimate the stupidity of the American electorate.
1
Remember this is Alabama. Moore and Sessions are representative of what the good citizens of Alabama have voted for. They make Cook County pols seem statesmanlike by comparison.
1
IF?....IF he wins? You must lack some critical knowledge of Olde Southern Heritage and Traditions...he was "gist foolin'around donchaknow"....."nothin' to get upset about"...."gist harmless horseplay"....OH he'll get elected no problem
I thought I would never say this but I hope Sessions stays on as AG and not go back to his Senate seat to bolster the slim Republican majority in the Senate by saving the seat from a possible Democratic win with the alleged child molester Moore in jeopardy of losing it.
Sessions will do less damage as AG then in the Senate. He stumbles so much, he basically recuses himself from any topic.
7
Two indicted officials claim to have reported back to Sessions. Obviously, they have the incentive to suggest they were acting at the direction of a higher up. Statements made by those charged to cover their butts are not the most credible of statements. Mr. Sessions will likely hit questions about them statements out of the ballpark.
1
I believe there are eMails supporting them.
2
So Sessions will be removed from the AG job -- for lying, possibly to replace the Alabama Senator who will be removed from the Senate -- for lying.
Surely we deserve a better government than a Senator who is chosen because he lies about less squeamish crimes! (And surely we deserve a better Senator than one who by lying furthers a foreign government's attack against us.)
17
Shouldn't Sessions be impeached for perjury???
20
The sign on the desk reads wrong: the is nothing "Hon." about Jeff Sessions, a proven liar, twice under oath. "Dep." for deplorable would fit the bill.
22
Jeff Sessions following Donald Trump's orders to save his job, is more than pathetic, it's Un-American, this is worse than Nixonian, it's harkens back to Stalinism.
Any Attorney General with an ounce of dignity or integrity, would ignore this request that the President obviously made to payback his former opponent, and either let himself be fired or resign, especially when Jeff Sessions has been shown to have been continually perjuring himself during senate testimony regarding Russian's involvement and contacts during the campaign.
I would think any honest Attorney General, would just be a little more focused and concerned with the new revelations of the Trump campaign having ongoing contacts with WikiLeaks and Donald Trump Junior, which is looking more and more like not only collusion, but direct coordination of the Trump campaign to smear Clinton and the evidence strongly indicates by timing of comments in the campaign that Donald Trump was well aware and involved in the efforts.
Kellyanne Conway, Hope Hicks and again, Jared Kushner definitely knew and should immediately be removed from their positions or fired. Mike Pence of course, is playing dumb again, although it's obvious he's not playing.
We have stronger evidence that is coming together that in fact the Russians with the help of Julian Assange, influenced the American public to elect an incompetent, and unfit man to the Oval Office who has been fulfilling their aim of a Putin Stooge in the Whitehouse.
46
The highest law enforcement official of the land lies. Our democracy is being tested in ways most of us never imagined.
45
Is there anyone in the upper echelon of the administration who has the ability, the integrity, the decency, and the honesty required for appointment to the offices to which they have been appointed? Is this to be a four-year nightmare of lies, dishonesty, incompetence, and deceit? Is there no end to the damage these people are doing to the government, the country, the world, and to each one of us, our children, and our grandchildren?
59
"Is this to be a four-year nightmare of lies, dishonesty, incompetence, and deceit?"
Yes, it is. Even just the first 9 1/2 months have been excruciating.
So nasty for the GOP that their tolerance for sexual harassment and pedophilia has become public. There are indeed men in both parties that indulge in these acts, but only the GOP has to come out and publicly explain why moral perfidy is less important than passing tax cuts for the rich.
50
Really just let the sleazballs in the south form another ugly Christian/ Corporate Hobby Lobby Country so We in Canada can boycott this pornographic assault on decency and democracy!
40
Canada and all of the blue states could make up a pretty great country...no?
1
A good number of us in the northern part of the United States are closer, culturally speaking, to Canada than we are to our southern states.
Lock Him Up!
27
Not too worried about a Seshuns... I mean Seshins... or is it Sesions... no wait... Sesshens write-in campaign.
12
Hon. Jeff Sessions. Could just Jeff Sessions be enough?
18
Trump’s pivot to order Sessions to investigate the Clinton’s is a great political move
His rural and rust belt voters will eat this up. And Fox will be breathless in its excitement
Seven more years!
9
Jeff Sessions has lied over and over again. In a different era, he would have been forced to resign and indicted on perjury charges. However, we now live in the banana republic of Donald Trump. What has happened to this country?
343
Lock him up.
115
And when he lies again under oath, when will Congress finally act? It is a felony to lie under oath and Sessions is not above the law. Why is the Congress letting him get away with it? Lock him up!
86
"It is a felony to lie under oath and Sessions is not above the law."
Actually, everyone in the Trump administration is above the law.
"It is a felony to lie under oath" -- Yes, and Bill Clinton was impeached for denying under oath that he had had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky. What a crime! And adult man having a fling with an adult woman, unheard of!
The Republicans, including Newt Gingrich--who at the time was having his own extra-marital affair--sank their teeth into that with glee, especially since their x-million dollar Whitewater investigation had led to nowhere...
But now, with clear evidence of lying on the part of the Attorney General (and countless others in the Trump administration), in a matter exponentially more serious than an affair, a matter which has huge implications for the integrity of American democracy as a whole, they are mum, not a peep.
It is truly sickening to watch, even from far abroad.
Now a proven liar in addition to a bigot and racist, I think we can take the "Honorable" designation off of his name plate.
251
I wonder how many times Sessions will commit perjury again.
122
Fusion GPS is about as important as was Benghazi. Before anyone wastes more tax monies on any stupid investigation, they should know that the vast majority of the uranium we use in this country (89%) is imported. Guess who supplies us with the most uranium? Members of the old soviet bloc including R-U-S-S-I-A:
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=nuclear_where
The Trump Administration are a bunch of jerks.
99
Maybe the Trump administration are a bunch of jerks. But what should be said of the voters who elected Trump, of all possible candidates, as POTUS????
1
... and the agreement of sale says it cannot be exported.
What's the over/under on how long it takes him to whine to the chairman about how mean they're being?
35
How many times does Sessions have to be dragged before a congressional committee to claim he doesn't remember or just to outright lie.
118
Selective memory is the hallmark of a successful politician.
Senility Perhaps?
Does it matter what Sessions will lie about, this time, under testimony?
Sessions, Trump, Conway, Pence, Kushner, Trump jr., Kelly, Sanders, Mnuchin.
What a hornet's nest of liars.
They remind me of Mary McCarthy's quote about Lillian Hellman, who McCarthy said was “a bad writer, a dishonest writer.”
When Dick Cavett asked what was “dishonest” about Miss Hellman, Miss McCarthy answered, “Everything.” Miss McCarthy continued, “Every word she writes is a lie, including ‘and’ and ‘the.'”
That describes just about every person in the Trump administration.
17
What else to watch for: Sessions running out the clock during his answers to Democrats, particularly Franken, by huffing and puffing about how offended he is by the tone and wording of their questions; Republicans heaping praise and gravitas on Sessions' proposed inquiry into Hillary's email server; Sessions' surprisingly agile command of connections between Russia and American uranium, yet his continuing foggy memory of connections between Russia and Trump. It will take an indictment from Mueller to squeeze anything like worthwhile information from Sessions, whose apparent belief that the American people are incapable of spotting a blatant liar knows no bounds.
1278
Good predictions and it would be worth assembling a handbook of implausible yet nonetheless believed by most nonsense. Being an exchange though, there needs to be manual for the other side that suggests the process of questioning in the face of there being no consequences still matters.
Canadian politician Iona Campagnolo once declared that politics and government were close to becoming irrelevant. I sense the Republican base has abandoned any expectation of accomplishing anything through government. Or worse, that things matter.
Franken is good, but not great. When it comes to questioning, the toughest, smartest, most effective Democratic Senator we have is Elizabeth Warren. Sessions would confess in tears if she interrogated him.
1
I'm all for holding Sessions to account for perjury, discriminatory positions, etc., but very few of these "things to watch for" materialized during the hearing. Let's not be like the Trumpers who shut their ears to everything that actually happens, in favor of our own hysteria.
What to Watch For as Jeff Sessions Testifies About Russia Contacts? Maybe him perjuring himself. Again.
5
Sessions will obfuscate and lie again, as his boss's boss Vladimir Putin so wishes.
9
The lying liars and the lies they tell will be on display this morning. I can't even imagine how he will talk his way out of this but there is little doubt in my mind he will have some kind of excuse as to why he lied in the first place.
7
Why would you have a special prosecutor to investigate Hillary?
The reason to have one would be that there is a conflict of interest at the Justice department -- i.e. Trump investigating himself. There's no conflict in a Republican administration investigating Hillary.
1
Among other reasons, Sessions specifically recused himself from matters relating to the two campaigns for president. And no one is proposing to investigate "Hillary" anyway -- they're proposing to investigate (1) the finding that there was nothing to prosecute in the Clinton email controversy, (2) the prior administration's decision to allow a private market sale of a Canadian uranium company, and (3) the activities of an actual charitable corporation, the Clinton Foundation.
There's been no word on whether Mueller's investigation has reached the shuttered sham-charity Trump Foundation, but I hope it does.
1
Sessions loves this type of situation. He'll sit sneering and smiling , slithering and sliding with meaningless words and phrases (qualifications galore) all short of provable perjury.
Sociopaths are nothing but clever. Will the questioners keep giving him passes when he insults them with the illusion of "answers?"
9
He’ll obfuscate and lie. He’ll accuse other people. That’s what he and his boss do. People without honour or honesty. He should never have been confirmed.
10
Add Jeff Sessions to the list.
When honest historians write the history of the Trump administration and the current makeup of the Republican party under the leadership of Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan, etc., they will discover a math formula that follows the code of 2+2=6, or, the other math code which follows the code of 2+2=1.
Take your pick.
Both formulas work to fit the Trump Team’s con-game.
Add Duterte, to Erdogan, you get one.
Add Duterte, to Erdogan, to Putin, to Trump, you still get 1.
The’re all one and the same when it comes to contempt for the rule of law.
Then you try searching for one answer to the “0” response from Trump when Erdogan’s security forces brutally attacked peaceful protesters in Washington DC on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. It’s still just one story about one moment of “silence” for the history books.
Add up all of Trump’s lies and silent deceptions, and they all add up to one big disaster for our country. Now is the time to get real serious -- every-one of us.
Now we get to hear one more story from Jeff Sessions.
6
Jeff Sessions has a "tell." Listen closely, and I'll share it with you. When he opens his mouth, he's lying.
12
Look for more amnesia from Sessions. Speaking of Alabama, here's an idea worthy of Kellyann Conway. Get a write in campaign going in Alabama to give Sessions his old Senate seat back. Trump and his acolytes get a new Attorney General who hasn't recused themselves from the Russia and Campaign probe. Think it's far fetched? Look at what we've been given so far.
4
The worst-case scenarios about Trump are coming to fruition and his ability to flaunt the rule of law are made possible by the shameless complicity of the Republican Party. The Democrats may have their problems, but there is no “equivalence” between the two parties, either in policies or practice, despite what self-promoters like Bernie Sanders, Donna Brazile or Jill Stein say. How different things might have been if all their “conscience followers” had realized this last year.
7
Sessions will not lie about his contact with Russians, might have selective memory loss, some dementia, remember it a different way but he will not lie about it. Especially if it might lead back to his boss.
2
No excuses accepted.
Well this should a big waste of time based on his previous Congressional appearances. Sometimes I wonder why they bother.
7
Sessions has become a morality-tale figure -- like Wormtongue in LOTR or Wormtail in The Harry Potter series. Weak toadies to evil get consumed.
Sessions is in zugwang: any move is perilous if not disastrous. In his present place he has some protection from Trump; getting rid of him will cost Trump too much. And he has a limited protection from Mueller; he won't be an early indictee. Mueller's investigation benefits from Sessions recusal. Mueller won't indict him until it's nearly wrapped up, and there is unequivocal testimony from others who are squealing, to take Sessions down with them.
The idea of getting Sessions out of the Trump administration by using him to replace Roy Moore is too clever by three-quarters. It solves problems for Trump, but it makes problems for McConnell, and what can Trump give Kay Ivey (Governor of Alabama) to get her to do it?
This is such thorough Trumpish thought -- "everyone will give me what I want, for free!"
If Ivey gets to name a US senator, remember Blagojevich. It's an exceedingly valuable political commodity, with many potential claimants. It has a legal price in Republican politics in Alabama, that it is most unlikely Trump has coin of the realm to pay.
5
lies and more lies.
7
The WH will be watching his performance?
This isn't an unscripted television show (although it is at this point) where he will do his best to bend the truth and dodge pointed questions..
I am appalled and disgusted he is even allowed to hold the title of the AG of the United States of America..
Thank you lazy Dems for not voting and thank you disgruntled middle aged white men for thinking DJT was your salvation
18
What to watch for as Jeff Sessions Testifies About Russia Contacts? More lies?
5
It wouldn't be out of character for McConnell to replace one racist hypocrite with another.
4
One more reason why Sessions, the Trump toady, is very motivated to investigate Clinton.
6
Oh but this is certainly going to take a back seat to the more important investigation into the Clintons and the 'uranium deal'. Diversion 101. How to keep my job and impress the Donald 101. God bless America- we certainly need it. And one question- where are all the responsible patriots who are supposed to GOVERN?
10
How often does Jeff Sessions have to change his story before it becomes perjury?
37
How about I float this idea to Mr. McConnell? Jeff Sessions is convicted of perjury and spends the next couple of years in prison.
16
Lyle how about getting off the Hillary really won train huh?. Sessions was a Senator until he was confirmed and they're asking about handshakes at some Trump rallies. How about Hillary rigging the Democratic election? how about President Obama,the fake peacenik, restarting wars in Iraq and Pakistan?.
Moore, Sessions, Flynn, Kushner, Trump Jr. , Papadopoulos, Page, Manafort, Gates, Scaramucci, Spicer. And many more.
Character is destiny.
7
How can a man entrusted with his position expect to and try to shield a lying kleptocrat? We need to return justice and democracy to America and fealty to dishonest Trump and Bannon's Leninist chaos isn't it.
8
Why are they dissembling by using words like "inconsistencies"? He lied. He should be held in contempt of Congress. But he he won't. He'll skate. The rule of law, let alone propriety, is gone.
875
You'd have to prove he lied first -- a high bar.
Actually, he lied under oath, which makes perjury. I believe that is an actionable crime.
1
The Senate Committee is also chaired by a particularly harsh Republican. I can think of a few choice words for the guy but none of them are publishable. You should watch the testimony. The rhythm is uncompromisingly predictable. Cut short Democratic questioning at every opportunity. Allow Sessions to ramble and ignore questions as much as possible. Have every Republican on the Committee talk about a different irrelevant topic until time has expired. Don't get me wrong. Democrats were off on some strange tangents too but some of them at least attempted ask the central question: Why did Jeff Sessions lie before Congress? Again. The answers, like the questions, are clearly equivocated.
Before Sessions' meeting in his office at the Capitol with Ambassador Kislyak his staff would have prepared talking points and background and after the meeting a staffer would have prepared a memo for files summarizing the discussion. This is normal operating procedure in a senator's office. The Committee should demand all office information including internal emails prior to and after the meeting and if normal procedures were not followed ask why not.
26