For reasons fully known only unto them, Democrats have seemed dead-set in getting rid of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, first by trying to smear him as a “racist” during his confirmation hearings, then by linking him to purportedly secret meetings with Russians as part of the unproven allegations of collusion between Russia and then-candidate Donald Trump’s campaign.
As a result of this witch-hunt against Sessions, the attorney general appeared Tuesday in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee to deliver his side of the story and counter the baseless allegations that had been leveled against him. He came out swinging hard against his Democrat detractors, according to Breitbart.
“Let me state this clearly colleagues. I have never met with or had any conversation with any Russian or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election in the United States,” Sessions stated in his opening remarks. “Further, I have no knowledge of any such conversations by anyone connected to the Trump campaign.”
“The suggestion that I participated in any collusion or that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government to hurt this country, which I have served with honor for 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie,” he added indignantly.
Prior to that, Sessions addressed the latest allegation lodged against him, namely that he had secretly met with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel in April 2016, a charge Sessions flatly disputed.
“I did not have any private meetings nor do I recall any conversations with any Russian officials at the Mayflower Hotel. I did not attend any meetings at that event,” Sessions stated, according to CNN. “Prior to the speech, I attended a reception with my staff that included at least two dozen people and President Trump. Though I do recall several conversations I had during that pre-speech reception, I do not have any recollection of meeting or talking to the Russian Ambassador or any other Russian officials.”
“If any brief interaction occurred in passing with the Russian ambassador during that reception, I do not remember it,” he continued. “After the speech, I was interviewed by the news media, which had gathered, as I remember, in a different room, and then I left the hotel.”
Sessions also addressed the implication that he had been less-than-honest during his confirmation hearing in regard to a surprise question from Minnesota Sen. Al Franken. He said such implications were absolutely “false,” going on to provide the context of the question and his response, which he held to be acceptable and true.
He also provided further detail into his own decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation, and made it clear that the decision “does not and cannot interfere with my ability to oversee the Department of Justice, including the FBI,” thus countering the demands that he resign or be fired from his current position.
“It is absurd, frankly, to suggest that a recusal from a single specific investigation would render an attorney general unable to manage the leadership of the various Department of Justice law enforcement components that conduct thousands of investigations,” stated Sessions.
After also quickly addressing his conversation with former FBI Director James Comey regarding the private discussion held between Comey and Trump, which in his view amounted to nothing, Sessions began to wrap up his statement.
“I recused myself from any investigation into the campaigns for President, but I did not recuse myself from defending my honor against scurrilous and false allegations,” Sessions said. “At all times throughout the course of the campaign, the confirmation process, and since becoming Attorney General, I have dedicated myself to the highest standards.”
“These false attacks, the innuendo, and the leaks, you can be sure, will not intimidate me,” he continued. “In fact, these events have only strengthened my resolve to fulfill my duty to reduce crime, and to support our federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who work our streets every day.”
You can watch Sessions’ opening statement in its entirety right here: