Sen. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsGOP short of votes on Trump's controversial Fed pick Congress must save the Postal Service from collapse — our economy depends on it Garcetti: I would have acted sooner if Trump hadn't downplayed virus MORE (R-Maine) is calling on 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 recuse himself from investigations regarding Russia's connections to President Trump's campaign.

Sessions is facing increasing pressure to stay out of the probes after the revelation that he spoke with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. during the presidential race but then claimed under oath that he had no contact with the Russian government during the campaign.

"Attorney General sessions should recuse himself to ensure public confidence in the Justice Department's investigation," Collins said in a statement.

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"He should also clarify his statements to the Judiciary Committee with respect to his communications with the Russian ambassador."

Collins testified on Sessions's behalf at his confirmation hearing.

Sessions did not disclose contact with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during his confirmation hearings, testifying under oath that he "did not have communications with the Russians."

Earlier Thursday, House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz Jason ChaffetzThe myth of the conservative bestseller Elijah Cummings, Democratic chairman and powerful Trump critic, dies at 68 House Oversight panel demands DeVos turn over personal email records MORE (R-Utah) said Sessions should "clarify his testimony and recuse himself."

Sen. Rob Portman Robert (Rob) Jones PortmanRomney undecided on authorizing subpoenas for GOP Obama-era probes Congress needs to prioritize government digital service delivery House passes B bill to boost Postal Service MORE (R-Ohio) also said "it would be best for him and for the country to recuse himself from the DOJ Russia probe."

Many Democratic lawmakers are calling for Sessions to resign.

Democrats in the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday also asked FBI Director James Comey to open a criminal investigation into whether Sessions lied under oath when he denied having any contact with Russian officials.