Posted on 12/08/2017 4:38:19 PM PST by TigerClaws
The FBI has put to bed a controversy whipped up by liberal critics of Attorney General Jeff Sessions over his contacts with foreign officials including Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 presidential campaign.
An FBI email released through the Freedom of Information Act said that Sessions had no obligation to reveal any contacts with foreign officials unless he “developed personal relationships” with them. AD 00:11 / 00:15 Al Franken should skip the ethics probe and resign over sexual misconduct Watch Full Screen
The bottom line: His two contacts with Kislyak in 2016 did not have to be revealed to the FBI on his SF-86 security clearance application, part of his confirmation process.
Sessions has repeatedly denied that he talked about the campaign with the Russian, but critics have continued to question his decision to not list them on his SF-86, which contains a box to check for contacts.
The email confirms statements from Justice staffers that Sessions did not need to check the foreign contacts box.
It does not list any name, but the “From” line reads “FBI.” It is dated March 7, 2017.
The email references a question asked by Sessions aide Peggi Hanrahan about previously asking if the attorney general needed to list is foreign contacts on the SF-86.
While the FBI official didn’t recall any prior discussions, the email said Sessions did the right thing.
“For the purposes of the SF-86, he was not required to list foreign government contacts while on official government business unless he developed personal relationships from such contacts,” said the FBI official in the email.
Sessions has never said the talks were more than in his capacity as a senator from Alabama and that he was not pals with the Russian ambassador.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com
Alka Seltzer Plus sales rise again!! :)
I sure hope this get widely read.. as I remember a particular person accusing AG Sessions of being a liar because of these forked tongue accusations. The hate Sessions ‘bots’ are rank amateurs.
#unrecuse NOW
Franken. Good riddence.
Now AG Sessins can “unrecuse” his rollover self.
One of the Dem idiots said he should have reported “as a meeting”....being in the same room as a Russian government official.
He better unrecuse.
I’m glad that the FBI has finally said what is in the instructions for filling out a SF 86 for one’s security clearance. Official travel overseas and meeting/speaking with foreign officials in the course of doing official business of the USA, is NOT reportable when filling out the SF 86. I just did my clearance renewal 2 years ago and did not have to report an overseas TDY because it was done on official Army orders. I was a Dept Army civilian at the time.
Something in the back of my mind keeps telling me that AG Sessions had something to do with the “discovery” and “coming forward” of the women accusing Franken of sexual assaults and/or sexual harassments.
Just a sneaking suspicion.
Exactly. Does this mean he can unrecuse himself??
One of them raised a bit of a "red flag" with the media who found out about it because the nature of the revision suggested that he was under consideration to be Donald Trump's running mate (I guess you file a certain change to the form to go through a higher level of scrutiny).
How much information you provide depends upon the security clearance you are being put in for: Confidential, Secret, Top Secret, or Top Secret with Special Compartmented Information access. All TS basic clearances require a Special Background Investigation, where as confidential and secret clearances do not. I have no info about changes for political office expectations.
SESSIONS?
Where did I hear that name before? It was such a long time ago.
“Now AG Sessins can “unrecuse” his rollover self.”
The fact that he has let this coup go on this long tells you that his recusal was orchestrated with the deep-state.
Rove was on Fox earlier in the day saying that Sessions HAD to recuse himself. He didn’t say anyone else did, just Jeff. Sessions should be proud to have such a staunch defender in Rove. No one else with any credibility thinks Sessions did the right thing with his recusal.
If Sessions had any honor he’d fire everyone at the DOJ and commit seppuku
Gee, I wonder if Sessions had anything to do with Mr. Franken’s current troubles....
Delicious food for thought.
You have no clue, you are just a bot that gets off bashing a man for following the law.
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