Washington, June 14: Attorney General Jeff Sessions has vehemently denied any personal involvement in Russia’s interference in the 2016 US presidential campaign, calling accusations that he discussed such an effort with Russian officials an “appalling and detestable lie”.
Sessions appeared before the Senate intelligence committee as part of its investigation into possible ties between Trump campaign officials and Russia.
He angered Democrats on the panel by refusing to answer questions about conversations with President Donald Trump.
“Let me state this clearly, colleagues. I have never met with or had any conversation with any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election in the United States,” Sessions told members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence during a hearing on Russia.
“Further, I have no knowledge of any such conversations by anyone connected to the Trump campaign,” he said. “I was your colleague in this body for 20 years, at least some of you, and the suggestion that I participated in any collusion, that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government to hurt this country, which I have served with honour for 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie,” Sessions said.
Sessions’ testimony came days after fired FBI Director James Comey testified that he believed he was fired as part of an effort to influence the agencies investigation into Russian meddling.
Sessions, the former Senator from Alabama, said Russian interference with America’s democratic processes can never be tolerated.
“I encourage every effort to get to the bottom of any such allegations,” he said “I did not have any private meetings, nor do I recall any conversations with any Russian officials at the Mayflower Hotel. I did not attend any meetings at that event separate,” Sessions added.
Press Trust of India
