Story highlights Jeff Sessions appeared before the Senate intelligence committee Tuesday

The White House had previously suggested Sessions could invoke executive privilege during his testimony

Sessions did not ask the White House about whether Trump was invoking executive privilege

Washington (CNN) Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday avoided answering a handful of questions during his hearing before the Senate intelligence committee -- but sought to explicitly avoid saying he is invoking "executive privilege."

"I'm not claiming executive privilege, because that's the President's power," Sessions told Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chairman of the Senate intelligence committee.

Instead, Sessions repeatedly said he is "not able to comment" or "not able to discuss" certain topics, citing either Justice Department "longstanding policy," and later, that he is protecting President Donald Trump's right to later on assert executive privilege "if he chooses."

Democrats were unhappy with Sessions declining to testify about his discussions with Trump, citing the longstanding policy.

In a statement issued following the hearing, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, the top Democrat on a subcommittee of the Judiciary panel, said: "As someone who served in the Department of Justice, I would love to know what he is talking about."

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