Testifying today before the Senate IntelligenceCommittee Attorney general Jeff Sessions denied any collusion between him and russian officials during the president ial campaign. He also answered questions about a private meeting in february with the president and then fbi director james comey. Senator richard burr of North Carolina chair is this two and a half hour hearing. And [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] i called the hearing to orderore please attorney general sessions, appreciate your willingness to appear before the committee today and thank you for your years of dedicated service as a member of this body and recent leadership at the department of justice. As i mentioned when the director appeared before us last week that his committees role is to be the eyes and ears for the other 85 members of the United States senate and the American People, ensuring that the Intelligence Community ishe operating lawfully and has the necessary tools to keep america safe. The community is large and diverse of a place and we recognize the gravity of ourur investigation into russias interference in the 2016 u. S. Elections, but i remind the we constituents while we investigate russia, we are scrutinizing the cia budget while we are investigating russia we are still scrutinizing the cia budget, nsa sends you to program carbonation Satellite Program and the entire effort to recruit and maintain the best talent we can find in the world. More often than not, the committee conducts its work behind closed doors a necessary step to ensure that sensitive sources and methods are protected. The sanctity of the sources and methods are at the heart of the communitys ability to keep us safe and our allies safe from those who seek to harm us. Ive said repeatedly i did not believe any pick up anything the committee does should be done in public but i also recognize the gravity of the current investigation and the need for the American People to be presented the facts so that they might make their own judgments. It is for that reason this committee has now held its tentf open hearing of 2017, more than double that of the committee in recent years, ancome and do this from the topic of russian interference. The venue is your opportunity tc separate fact from fiction and those in the press for example there are several issues but im hopeful we will address today. Number one did you have any meetings with russian officials or the proxies on behalf of the campaign or your time as attorney general, number two what was your involvement with the foreignpolicy team and what are the possible interactions with russia. Number three why did you decide to recuse yourself from the investigation and forth what role if any did you play in the removal of the then fbi directoa comey. I look forward to an honest discussion as we continue to pursue the truth behind the interference in the elections. It the committees experienced staff is interviewing the relevant parties and that have spoken to more than 35 individuals that party today to include just yesterday an interview with the former Homeland Security secretary johnson we also continue to review some of the most sensitive intelligence in the countrys possession. As i said previously we will establish the facts, separate from the rampant speculation and lay them out for the American People to make their own judgment and only then will hee be able to put this episode to rest and look to the future. Im hopeful members will focus their questions today on the a russia investigation into the opportunity by taking the political or partisan shots the. Vicechairman and i continue to lead this investigation together on what is a highly charged political issue. We may disagree at times but we remain a unified team with a dedicated, focused and professional staff working tirelessly on behalf of the American People to find theas truth. The committee has made much progress as the political winds blow forcefully around us and i think all would agree despite a torrent of public debate on who and what committee might be best suited to lead on this issue, the Intelligence Committee has lived up to its obligation to move forward with purpose and above politics. Mr. Attorney general, its good to have you back and i will now turn to the vicechairman for any remarks he might have. I want to thank the way we are proceeding on the investigation. Its good to see you again and we appreciate your appearance on the heels of the testimony lastm week. I do want to take a moment at the outset and first expressss some concern with the process by which we are seeing the attorney general today. S its my understanding you were originally scheduled to testify in front of the house and Senate Committee appropriations today. I know those appearances have been canceled to come here instead. While we appreciate the testimony before our committee, i believe, and i believe i speak for many of my colleagues i believe you should also answer questions from the members of those committees and the Judiciary Committees as well. It is my hope that you will reschedule those as soon asou possible. In addition i want to say at the outset while we consider the t appearance today as just the beginning of our interactions with you and your department, ws always expect it to talk with you as a part of ourct investigation and we believed it would be later in the process. We are glad to accommodate the request to speak with us today but also expect to have the commitment to cooperate with alo future requests and make herself available as necessary to the committee as the chairman commencommented on this investi. Now with todays discussion lets start with the campaign. You were an early supporter of mr. Trump. In march he remained as chairman of the Trump CampaignNational Security advisory committee. We more than a surrogate for the Strategic Advisor who helpedha shape much of the campaigns National Security strategy. No doubt he would have key insights about some of the associates that were seeking to hear in the weeks ahead. Questions have also been raised about some of your own interactions with russian officials during the campaign. In a hearing in january you said ruu didnt have communicationsns with russians. Senator leahy later asked you in writing whether youd been in contact with anyone can put any part of the government and he answered a definitive no. Despite that fact was discovered later you did have interactions with russian government officials in the course of the campaign. To drop the fbi investigation on Michael Flynn. Finally he believes he was fired over his handling of the rush investigation and the president himself confirmed these statements to the media and we need to preserve the independence of the fbi so in order to followup mr. Attorney general your testimony today is an opportunity to begin the process for instance, you recused herself from the Russian Investigation but yet you participated to fire director komi ova handling of the same investigation. After speaking oneonone that is a concerning action. And how you read viewed you the president s request and if you thought was appropriate and also if you are aware of any attempts by the president to enlist leaders of the intelligence themittee to undermine this. And the committee wants toto hear we were doing to ensure the russians or any of other foreign nationals cannot attack the democratic process i am concerned the president still does not recognize the severity so does not even have any conclusions as the russians even enter injured intervened in the elections the recent achievements in france that all western democracies must take steps i believe the United States can and must be a leader the requires administration to be serious so to concede a concerning pattern of refusing to answer public classified questions of allegations in this investigation and made very clear that our witnesses to come before congress the American People deserve an accord to there stood your testimony. I will the minister the oath to solve the swear to tell the truth, a whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you god . I do. Please be seated for go the floor sure. Thank you very much to the chairman into Ranking Member to appear before your committee today as these importance due in chip so such interference can not be tolerated and i encourage every effort to and as you know, to appoint a special counsel to investigate the matter with the russian interference in the 2016 election i am here to redress what has been raised before this committee. And i appreciate the opportunity to respond to questions but as they buy a shoe mr. Chairman we cannot or will not violate my duties that i have with the president. So now let me address issues directly ahead no private meetings or do i recall a conversation of any russian official i did not attend any meetings separately prior to the speech today and i attended a reception with my staff that includedn two dozen people and President Trump so i do recall several conversationscep. In did not have any recollection corelli other russian officials for pro and i did not remember by the news media that there was a different room and at the hotel but not if i ever attended a reception were the Russian Ambassador was also present is entirely beside the point of this investigation into russian interference of the 2016 campaign me make clear i have never met with where have had any conversation concerning any type of interference in the United States and further and have no knowledge for anyone connected i was en this body and your colleague and i participated in any collusion to hurt this country which i have served with honor for 35 years to undermine the integrity of the democratic process is appalling and detestable and there is the assertion and that is false i cannot see colleagues now is there no thiser part of this body this is what happened senator frank and asked me a rambling question after six hours of testimony that included dramatic allegations that United States intelligencee committee added vice of president elect that there was a continuing exchange of information during the campaign during those intermediaries. Aback i was taken aback with these allegations that was reported as breaking news that very day of which i had done heard. S so any suggestions as part of such activity i replied this i am not aware of any of those activities progress have been called a surrogate in that campaign to have communications with the russians said they cannot communicate. That was the context in wasch was asked a question with fair and correct response how was responding to this allegation that surrogates for reading with russians on a regular basis simply did not occurred to me to go further than the context of that question that i may have had with the russian with a routine situation as i had other readings of the other officials so only in march a that a reporter asked a spokesperson if i had never met with any russian officials this was the first time that question was posed to be on the same day we provided the inspiration related that we held in the senate office, as well asy the brief encounter in julyd, o. During the convention in cleveland ohio. Reporte has also provided a reporter with the list and in addition am provided supplemental testimony to the Judiciary Committee to explain this event so i readily acknowledgement is certainly not one thing happened that was improper and that will also explain the circumstances of my recusal from investigationthe of russian interference. Colleagues to me on this i was sworn in and february february 9th and the very next day i promised what i would do then that with carrier park officials to discuss something as publicly reported in the press that might have a bearing if i should recuse myself in this case. Ebruary from that point february for february 10th analysis my formal recusal i was there ever briefed on any a investigations in did not access any information i received only that limited information to determine what was necessary for mesuch, and as such i have no knowledge of this investigation beyond what has been publicly reported. And i have taken and though action whatsoever on the date of my formal recusal name sending a head by dave of director komi to the fbi to instruct them to inform their staff in to revise them in any way of any such matter. Reportedly i recused myself not because of any wrongdoing or any belief that i may have been that involved but because the department of justiceon, 28 regulation i felt required it. It says that Department Employee should not participate in the investigations on a campaign if they serve as a campaign adviser. So the scope of my recusal does not to in cannot interfere with those who oversee the department of justice including the fbi within a billion dollar budget and 35,000 employees. I presented to the president my concern and those of the Deputy Attorney general of the ongoing leadershipissues a issues the fbi has stated in my letter recommending their review removal of director comey along with the attorney general memorandum on the issue to be released publicly by the warehouse those represent a clear statement of my views depy i adopted the points that were made and with my recommendation. It is of surges in just a recusal from a single specific investigation would render the attorney general l to not have leadership of the the various departmentntcomn of components that conducts thousands of investigations. Finally during the testimony mr. Komen discussed a conversation we had about the meeting with the president. T i am happy to share with the committee my recollection of that conversation that i had. Following a routine briefing he spoke to me and my chief of staff said he did not provide me with any substance of his conversation and the baby for the director expressed concern of the proper communication protocol with the warehouse a of the president. I responded to his commenthat t by a agreeing the fbi inin department of justice need to follow policies regarding appropriate contact with the white house broke mr. Komi had served for more than two decades and i was confident he understood and would abide by the wellestablished rules the limited communications with one white house especiallyly with ongoing investigations. My comments as i understand it and how the department of justice rules have been in place for years and mr. Kelley new those and i assume he complied with them so i will finish with this. Ecusd i recuse myself from any investigation into the campaign for president but did not recuse myself from defending when honor against careless and false allegations. And during that capri share process and as attorney general i have dedicated myself to the highest standard and have earned a reputation for bad and in this body over decades. The people of this country expect an honesty and transparent government and that is what were giving them for the president wants to focus on the people of this country to be sure they are treated fairly the child the agenda is to improve the lives of the American People some have different ways to achieve this with a different agenda but that is his agenda and one that i share. As attorney general i have responsibility to enforce laws of the nation to protect this country from its enemies and to ensure and i intend to work every day with our team and these professionals from the department of justice to a fancy important work. Th the use of false attacks and innuendoes you can be sure will not intimidate me and in fact, illy strengthens my resolve to fulfill my duty to reduce crime at the state and local lawenforcement officers to work on the street every day and just last week it was reported overdose death in the country are rising faster than ever recorded. Last year 52,000 the New York Times just estimated it will be 62,000 next year. The murder rate is up overton and increase since 1968. Paillette were telling the gangs in the cartels and the terrorists that were coming after you, every one of our citizens to matterze who they are or where they live their right to be safe in their homes and communities i will not be deterred roulette this department to be deterredro from this vital issue. I have the it is a great honor to t appear before you today and i will do my best to be of your questions. Thank you for that testimony. Note i would like to note for members the chair in the vice chair recognized andnu its the members are recognized by the minister like to remind the members were in open in session no sensitive materials should be used relative to your questions so i recognizefo myself for 10 minutes. Attorney general sessions, you talk about the Mayflower Hotels with the president gave his first Foreign Policy speech youe. Were there and others for their buck from your testimony you said you dontt remember if the a Russian Ambassador was there . I did not remember that but i a understand he was anere. But i dont doubt that he was. In fact, i recently saw a video of him coming into their rooms director you dont remember having a conversation with him relieving with him . I do not. Was there ever a crowded room setting you were involved in . No. Other than the reception area that was two or three dozen people. Came yes. A and there were people that were with you at the event . To read maya director at the time to do was is a retired u. S. Army colonel served on the u. S. Senate Services Staff was with me in the reception area throughout the rest of the event. Were you there is the United States senator as a member of the