Posted on 07/21/2017 4:33:40 PM PDT by springwater13
Russia’s ambassador to Washington told his superiors in Moscow that he discussed campaign-related matters, including policy issues important to Moscow, with Jeff Sessions during the 2016 presidential race, contrary to public assertions by the embattled attorney general, according to current and former U.S. officials.
Ambassador Sergey Kislyak’s accounts of two conversations with Sessions — then a top foreign policy adviser to Republican candidate Donald Trump — were intercepted by U.S. spy agencies, which monitor the communications of senior Russian officials both in the United States and in Russia. Sessions initially failed to disclose his contacts with Kislyak and then said that the meetings were not about the Trump campaign.
One U.S. official said that Sessions — who testified that he has no recollection of an April encounter — has provided “misleading” statements that are “contradicted by other evidence.” A former official said that the intelligence indicates that Sessions and Kislyak had “substantive” discussions on matters including Trump’s positions on Russia-related issues and prospects for U.S.-Russia relations in a Trump administration.
Sessions has said repeatedly that he never discussed campaign-related issues with Russian officials and that it was only in his capacity as a U.S. senator that he met with Kislyak.
“I never had meetings with Russian operatives or Russian intermediaries about the Trump campaign,” Sessions said in March when he announced that he would recuse himself from matters relating to the FBI probe of Russian interference in the election and any connections to the Trump campaign.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
This is interesting and what follows will be more interesting.
However, I do not understand how a Presidential candidate or someone with a campaign talking to a diplomat is more nefarious and more of a threat to national security than foreign governments funneling money to Presidential campaign coffers or foundations controlled by elected / non elected gov’t employees.
For that matter, foreign governments donating to McCain’s foundation is IMHO also a threat to national security.
Here we go again. “Officials” familiar with intercepts say. Mr. X, says. I say. Whoever says.
Always unnamed, likely non-existent.
I find it funny that these idiots would actually want Sessions to resign so that a non-conflicted AG can get appointed who will not have to recuse from the Russia investigation. That AG can then open a can of whoop arse on Mueller.
Rudy is a savage. He’s go after the corruption. I hate his stance on abortion, though.
Quote: ‘. . . according to current and former U.S. officials.’
How many damn stories have started with this line? I would love to see Sessions go but not based on WaPo propaganda, which if true are based on treasonous leaks of classified info, but more likely are utter fabrications.
Christie was negative about jr meeting with russians
It is puzzling. After the Left’s successful gambit on the Russia recusal, they know that Sessions can be played.
What do they gain if Sessions goes?
Agreed. So? And fake news. Former official says what the ambassador said to someone else, not directly to Sessions. Leaks. Not illegal. Improper surveillance. Misleading? Not untruthful. If they don’t have Sessions on tape they cannot possibly know the facts.
I doubt it...Sessions already offered his resignation a couple months ago and Trump rejected it.
His usefulness is up since Trump is declaring Sessions problems being head of the Justice Department in public.
I believe this to be another fabrication of Washington Post news. They are so dishonest.
Remember Comey in his testimony said he “knew” Sessions would have to recuse.
He saw the intercepts.
http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/336938-comey-fbi-expected-sessions-to-recuse-himself
Yes it is. It’s called creative writing. You have to read the entire article to pick out the one big flaw in it....
"Recess coming soon, so couldn’t Trump temporarily put up whoever he wanted to?"
Exactly my thought. If appointees in critical positions aren't going to last more than a few months in the job, why not just recess appoint them? He can then appoint people who would never get through a Senate confirmation.
McConnell has to cooperate, though. (At least that's what the SC said. Obama couldn't declare the Senate in recess.)
(Wouldn't bother me. I'd take a short-term gig. In fact, I'd hope for it. The longest I could ever stand working for the gov't was 2 years.)
That was then..this is now
My guess is trump side leak to get at Sessions
First you theorize that Trump is behind this boring story and now you suggest Chris Christie as a replacement for Sessions. Were you on Mars when he was caught on a closed beach last month, looking like a sated moose, while everyone else had their beach passes confiscated??? He’s the most disliked and most useless politician on earth.
Any more suggestions?
The Senate has 52 Republicans.
If Trump had not made his critical statements about Sessions earlier this week, would these “current and former US officials” have leaked anything to the Compost? Are the two events related?
Something to think about.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.