The firing of former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe is not only controversial, by it also appears to have been done in contempt of Congress.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to oust McCabe directly violates the promise Sessions made, under oath, to recuse himself from such matters.

During his January 2017 confirmation hearings before the U.S. Senate, Attorney General Jeff Sessions unequivocally assured senators that he would recuse himself from any matters involving the Russia investigation and the Trump and Clinton campaigns. He also very clearly told Sen. Chuck Grassley that his recusal would cover any matters involving the Clinton Foundation.

Here is the full exchange:

Sen. Chuck Grassley: During the course of the presidential campaign, you made a number of statements about the investigation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, relating to her handling of sensitive emails and regarding certain actions of the Clinton Foundation. You weren’t alone in that criticism. I was certainly critical in the same way as were millions of Americans on those matters, but now, you’ve been nominated to serve as attorney general. In light of those comments that you made, some have expressed concerns about whether you can approach the Clinton matter impartially in both fact and appearance. How do you plan to address those concerns?

Jeff Sessions: Mr. Chairman, it was a highly contentious campaign. I, like a lot of people, made comments about the issues in that campaign. With regard to Secretary Clinton and some of the comments I made, I do believe that that could place my objectivity in question. I’ve given that thought.

I believe the proper thing for me to do, would be to recuse myself from any questions involving those kind of investigations that involve Secretary Clinton and that were raised during the campaign or to be otherwise connected to it.

Sen. Grassley: OK. I think, that’s—let me emphasize then with a follow-up question. To be very clear, you intend to recuse yourself from both the Clinton email investigation and any matters involving the Clinton Foundation, if there are any?

Sessions: Yes.

This exchange shows that Sessions failed to honor a promise he clearly made to the Senate, under oath, in its decision to confirm him as attorney general.

That brings an important question: Can Sessions be impeached for contempt of Congress? ShareTweet