Tuesday, Attorney General Sessions testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee to answer questions about former FBI Director Comey and Russia. The hearing began at 2:30 EST.

We updated this post real-time during the hearing, so you’ll find highlights in sequential order.



Complete opening statement:

Sessions says he does not recall any meeting with Russian officials regarding the Trump campaign or the 2016 election at the Mayflower Hotel:

LIVE: Sessions tells Senate committee he did not have any meetings with Russians at Mayflower Hotel https://t.co/RjnVn0YWiI pic.twitter.com/rsVZtCuZdC — Reuters Live (@ReutersLive) June 13, 2017

Sessions calls the collusion allegation an “appalling and detestable lie”:

"The suggestion that I participated in collusion [with Russia]…is an appalling and detestable lie," Sessions says: https://t.co/iyqKhRuBYt pic.twitter.com/uEK7MSEhR7 — CBS News (@CBSNews) June 13, 2017

On why he chose to recuse himself:

LIVE: Sessions says he recused himself because of DoJ regulation that required it because he was a campaign adviser https://t.co/z9n1Z5Vxgi pic.twitter.com/qtLIrZiHoP — Reuters Live (@ReutersLive) June 13, 2017

Though he fully plans to defend the honor of his reputation:

Sessions: "I did not recuse myself from defending my honor against scurrilous and false allegations." — Eli Yokley (@eyokley) June 13, 2017

Neither is he working with Special Counselor Mueller:

Jeff Sessions says he has not had any interaction with Bob Mueller since he became special counselor. — Matt Viser (@mviser) June 13, 2017

"I have known Mr. Mueller over the years…I have confidence in Mr. Mueller, but I am not going to discuss any hypotheticals…” – Sessions. — Mike Warren (@MichaelRWarren) June 13, 2017

Sessions never spoke with Comey about his job performance at the FBI:

Sessions says he never had a conversation with Comey about his performance before he was fired as FBI director pic.twitter.com/69I3d7oNun — Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) June 13, 2017

On the question of whether Sessions did in fact linger after a meeting with Trump:

Why did you linger? Sessions: “I eventually left. I do recall that I think I was the last or one of the last two or three to leave.” — James Hohmann (@jameshohmann) June 13, 2017

“Mr. Attorney General, do you have to let it linger? Do you have to, do you have to, do have to let it linger?” — jimgeraghty (@jimgeraghty) June 13, 2017

Rubio: "Do you remember lingering? Do you remember feeling that you needed to stay?"

AG: "I do recall being one of the last ones to leave." pic.twitter.com/b0hLqKZaPU — CBS News (@CBSNews) June 13, 2017

Sessions also said if Comey felt he was being improperly pressured by Trump, he could’ve brought his complaint to Sessions himself or the Deputy AG.

Today’s spicy segment brought to you by Sen. Wyden (D-OR):

"Senator Wyden, I am not stonewalling," Sessions says. "I am following the policies of the Department of Justice." https://t.co/iyqKhRuBYt pic.twitter.com/ZPBsUYcnSG — CBS News (@CBSNews) June 13, 2017

"This is a secret innuendo being leaked out there about me," Sessions testifies, saying circumstances of his recusal were not "problematic." pic.twitter.com/UZA7SNFltQ — CBS News (@CBSNews) June 13, 2017

Reminder: Wyden called for Sessions to resign after the Comey firing… — James Pindell (@JamesPindell) June 13, 2017

FINALLY, the question America really wants answered: Does the AG enjoy spy fiction?

Sen. Cotton mocks theories about Mayflower meetings, likening them to spy fiction. pic.twitter.com/YlwHyzXkro — Axios (@axios) June 13, 2017

Learks beware:

Sessions: "Some people may fear they wish they hadn't leaked." — Adam Goldman (@adamgoldmanNYT) June 13, 2017

Kamala Harris was asked to behave once again:

California’s Junior Senator is the only member of the Senate Intel Committee who consistently refused to allow AG Sessions to finish answering her questions before moving on to the next question. She still hasn’t learned she’s on a Senate Committee conducting a hearing, not in a courtroom. It’s almost like she was hoping to cut Sessions off in order to elicit a very particular response. Sessions would have none of it. Harris might be likeable if she didn’t come off as desperate to prove herself tough. It’s a tired, unnecessary schtick.

The “Harris was silenced!” crowd neglects to note that another woman on the committee, Sen. Feinstein, has not been silenced. Unlike Harris, Feinstein has treated witnesses with respect rather than contempt.

FBI Leadership:

"A change at the top of the F.B.I. should have no impact whatsoever on the investigation," AG Jeff Sessions says: https://t.co/iyqKhRuBYt pic.twitter.com/qHthe6oPuC — CBS News (@CBSNews) June 13, 2017

Political media reaction:

Tweets from https://twitter.com/LegInsurrection/lists/elections



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