AG Jeff Sessions Met With Russian Ambassador Twice Prior to Election

Written by Grant M. Deltz

Associate Editor

Last year, when he was still a senator from Alabama, Jeff Sessions spoke twice with the Russian Ambassador to the United States according to Justice Department officials.

When Sessions was asked during his January 10 confirmation hearing about Trump campaign contact with the Russians, he remarked,

“I am not aware of any of those activities.” Adding, “I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I did not have communications with the Russians.”

Here is the video of that exchange:

Video of Sessions under oath denying he had any contacts with the Russians during the campaign pic.twitter.com/cnbAP187dZ

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) March 2, 2017

Also in January 2017, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) asked Sessions,

“Several of the President-elect’s nominees or senior advisers have Russian ties. Have you been in contact with anyone connected to any part of the Russian government about the 2016 election, either before or after election day?”

Sessions responded with a single word answer: “No.”

Sessions met with the Russian envoy in July at the GOP National Convention and in February in his private senatorial office on Capitol Hill.

In February 2016, Sessions formally joined the Trump campaign. His meetings with the Russian ambassador were undisclosed.