Jeff Sessions ‘recuses’ from Russia probe

Amid investigations of the alleged Russian meddling in the US election, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has opted to “recuse” himself from any existing or future investigations. America's top prosecutor maintained that his statement during his confirmation hearing were "honest and correct” as he understood it at the time".

"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,” Sessions said in a statement. In his confirmation hearing in January, Sessions said he had "no communications with the Russians.” But his claim was contrary to new reports indicating that he met with Moscow's envoy during last year's White House race. Now Democrats are requesting his resignation.

When asked about what he will do if there is any proof that anyone affiliated with the 2016 presidential campaign of now US President Donald Trump had a talk with the Russian government, Sessions said he does not have knowledge of any of those activities. However, BBC notes that Sessions and Russia's ambassador to the US, Sergei Kislyak, had a private talk in September.

The two have supposedly spoken at a meeting with a number of other envoys. Session’s conversation with the Russian ambassador took place while he was playing a prominent part of Trump’s campaign. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said Sessions "clearly misled" the Senate.

But Sessions argued that he had spoken with the Russian envoy as a US senator, not someone who was representing Trump. Sessions is confident that he never talked about the Trump’s campaign with Russian operatives or Russian intermediaries. Instead, Session said they have discussed issues on terrorism. Kislyak, on the other hand, met Session as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee according to the Justice Department.

The president supports Session’s statement, saying he is an honest man. "Jeff Sessions is an honest man. He did not say anything wrong,” Trump told Reuters. He believes that the Democrats are just “overplaying their hand,” which he describes as a “total witch hunt.” Trump has previously said he was not aware that Sessions and Kislyak had a meeting.

The US intelligence community claims that the alleged Russian hacking of Democratic organisations in the election run-up was executed in order to help secure Trump’s win against Hillary Clinton. But the president said reports that he or his associates contacted the Russian intelligence are fake news.