A pair of Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are pushing for Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsTrump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status White House officials voted by show of hands on 2018 family separations: report MORE to come back before the panel to discuss his meetings with a Russian official.

Sen. Dick Durbin Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinGOP ramps up attacks on Democrats over talk of nixing filibuster Catholic group launches .7M campaign against Biden targeting swing-state voters Overnight Defense: Dems divided on length of stopgap spending measure | Afghan envoy agrees to testify before House panel | Trump leans into foreign policy in campaign's final stretch MORE (Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) said separately on Thursday that they believe the former Alabama senator should appear to explain his previous comments.

"Attorney General Jeff Sessions ... has to be brought back to the Judiciary committee to answer the questions that he cut off," Blumenthal told MSNBC.

Sessions announced during a press conference on Thursday that he would recuse himself from any investigations related to Russia's connection to Donald Trump Donald John TrumpTrump says he doesn't think he could've done more to stop virus spread Conservative activist Lauren Witzke wins GOP Senate primary in Delaware Trump defends claim coronavirus will disappear, citing 'herd mentality' MORE's presidential campaign.

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He also noted that he would be sending a letter to the Judiciary Committee to "explain this comment for the record."

But Blumenthal argued that a written letter isn't sufficient because "it is not under oath. It is not subject to questioning."

"[And] If it not a credible explanation, he will have to resign," Blumenthal said.

The Washington Post reported Wednesday evening that Sessions spoke to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the presidential campaign, then denied having contact with Russian officials under oath during his confirmation hearing.

Durbin added on Thursday that Sessions's decision to recuse himself is "essential" but that he also believed Sessions needed to testify under oath about the matter.

Asked if he's spoken with Sen. Dianne Feinstein Dianne Emiel FeinsteinDemocrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts Congress must save the Postal Service from collapse — our economy depends on it Emboldened Democrats haggle over 2021 agenda MORE (Calif.), the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, Durbin added: "We've made a number of requests. I'll talk to her about how to formalize that, if necessary."

Democrats, in the minority on both the committee and in the Senate, hold limited sway to get Sessions to reappear or force an independent commission to look into any talks between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyTrump walks back aluminum tariffs on Canada Trump order on drug prices faces long road to finish line GOP chairman to release interim report on Biden probe 'in about a week' MORE called Grassley's decision to recuse himself the "right thing" and dismissed talks amongst some Democrats for Sessions to resign as "nonsense."

The Iowa Republican added he was glad Sessions was sending the committee a letter but didn't signal that he would recall the former GOP senator to testify.

"I appreciate that he will be sending a letter to the committee, as I asked him to do, to clear up any confusion regarding his testimony so we can put this issue to bed once and for all," Grassley said.