Al Franken ‘Very Troubled’ That Jeff Sessions Lied To Him About Meeting With Russian

By Dave Goldiner March 2, 2017

Sen. Al Franken said he is “very troubled” that Attorney General Jeff Sessions lied about his contacts with the Russian ambassador during his confirmation hearing last month.

The Jewish Minnesota Democrat tweeted about Sessions after the Washington Post revealed the two meetings, which Sessions specifically denied in an answer to Franken during his hearing.

Very troubled that Attorney General Jeff Sessions had contact with Russian official despite testifying otherwise. https://t.co/ak9sU6EOmk

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— Sen. Al Franken (@SenFranken) March 2, 2017

Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi called Sessions “unfit to serve” after the revelations.

At his Jan. 10 Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing, Sessions was asked by Franken what he would do if he learned of any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of the 2016 campaign, the Post reported.

Sessions responded: “I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I did not have communications with the Russians.” Sessions claimed Wednesday that he didn’t consider the conversations with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak relevant.

If it turns out Sessions lied under oath, he of course will be sbjct to criminal prosecution & shld immediately resign. #ResolutionofInquiry https://t.co/Lw3oDdv62x

— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) March 2, 2017

Dave Goldiner is the Forward’s director of digital media. Dave is a veteran journalist who has spent two decades working at newspapers in the United States and Africa. A native New Yorker, Goldiner wrote for the New York Daily News, where he covered some of the biggest stories of our time, including the attacks of September 11, along with thousands of stories of hope and heartbreak. He also studied and worked in Southern Africa and has written for publications in South Africa and Zimbabwe. He holds masters degrees in journalism and public administration from Columbia University. Dave can be reached at goldiner@forward.com, or follow him on Twitter @davegoldiner

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