It has been confirmed that Donald Trump’s attorney general Jeff Sessions spoke with the Russian ambassador to the United States twice during the election. Sessions denied this suggestion during his confirmation in January.

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As BBC News reports, the justice department has confirmed that Sessions met Sergei Kislyak in July and September 2016 as part of his role on the Senate Armed Services Committee. The Washington Post reports that the first meeting came when U.S. intelligence officials were investigating Russia's alleged interference in the presidential election.

A spokeswoman for Sessions has confirmed that the meetings took place, but denies either meeting was related to the election campaign. “I never met with any Russian officials to discuss issues of the campaign,” Sessions’ statement said. “I have no idea what this allegation is about. It is false.”

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During his confirmation hearing on January 10, Democrat Senator Al Franken asked Sessions what he wold do if it is found that the Trump campaign had communicated with the Russian government during the campaign. Sessions replied, "I'm not aware of any of those activities. I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I did not have communications with the Russians. And I'm unable to comment on it."

Trump’s first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was forced to resign in February after it was discovered that he had communicated with Kislyak over sanctions.

