Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Jeff Sessions during his Senate hearing today, "I don't recall, I don't remember, I don't like to be rushed." Update!

I wanted to embed the Kamala Harris questioning because I loved how unrelenting she was in trying to get Sessions to tell the truth.

And this is my favorite part of her questioning.
Kamala Harris tore Sessions a new one today and he got his tiny little elfin feelings hurt, which inspired John McCain, who is not a member of this committee, to ride to his rescue.

Earlier in the hearing Sessions called any accusation that he helped or was aware of any collusion with the Russians an "appalling and detestable lie": 

"Further, I have no knowledge of any such conversations by anyone connected to the Trump campaign," Sessions said. "The suggestion that I participated in any collusion or that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government to hurt this country, which I have served with honor for 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie." 

Sessions also refused to talk about any of this conversations with Trump:

Sessions confirmed that he had left Comey on his own with Trump in the Oval Office alone February 14, though declined to say whether he was ordered to do so by the President citing the need to keep his conversations with him private. He also said that Comey had later told him he was concerned about the meeting, but he did not say that something improper occurred. 

Oddly enough Sessions also claimed that he had never been briefed on the Russian hacking: 

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said during new sworn testimony that he has never received a briefing on Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election. 

"It appears so, the intelligence community seems to be united in that," Sessions said Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee, in response to a question from Maine Senator Angus King about whether Russia worked to influence the election. "But I have to tell you Senator King, I know nothing but what I've read in the paper. I've never received any detailed briefing on how hacking occurred or how information was alleged to have influenced the campaign." 

King asked Sessions, now the top law enforcement officer in the country, to confirm that he never received any briefing on the Russian measures in the election. "No, I don't believe I ever did," Sessions replied.

Now either Attorney General Jeff Sessions just perjured himself, or he is completely unfit for the position of Attorney General, because it would seem to be impossible for an AG to do their job without having many substantive briefings on the fact that the Russian government hacked into our election in an attempt to manipulate the results.

Update: Al Franken weighs in.

64 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:02 PM

    Sessions was pathetic to watch. The guy assuredly has zero personality and is NOT likeable as a first introduction!

    Plus, he is protecting Trump. Those Republican white guys in D.C. are truly deplorable!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous4:42 PM

      I think he agreed to testify in open session imagining that he would follow in Comey's footsteps and be hailed as a forthright, honest patriot.
      Little Jeffy dear, you are no James Comey.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous2:05 PM

    I think I have a crush on Kamala Harris! She is fierce

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't she? As a native Californian, I'm proud to have her represent my home state... especially because D.C. residents don't get Senators of our very own to speak for us!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous3:39 PM

      You are not alone, i think the same thing. She is fiesty smart and good looking, what's not to like.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous4:43 PM

      Jason Miller on AC360 just referred to Harris as "hysterical" during the hearing today. What a chauvinistic bastard he is!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous5:52 PM

      I dont see hysterical, i saw a woman dealing with a man that was avoiding her questions. She just got a little more direct with her questions.

      Delete
    5. And for the second time, MEN on the committee interrupted her.

      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kamala-harris-jeff-sessions_us_59404f23e4b0d318548591d9?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

      "Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) was cut off by two of her male colleagues while questioning Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday, just one week after they interrupted her during a different hearing.

      During Sessions’ testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Harris asked him to explain what Justice Department policy prevented him from answering some questions from the committee’s members, and whether he had discussed that policy with his staff prior to the hearing.

      But as Harris, a former prosecutor, pressed the attorney general to answer her questions, she was interrupted by the committee’s chairman, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). "

      "“Sir, I’m not asking you about the principle. I’m asking when you knew you would be asked these questions and you would rely on that policy, did you not ask your staff to show you policy that would be the basis for your refusing to answer the majority of questions that have been asked of you?” Harris, who is one of three women on the Senate committee, asked Sessions after he avoided directly answering her line of questioning.

      “Chairman, the witness should be allowed to answer the question,” McCain said.

      “Senators will allow the chairs to control the hearing,” Burr said to McCain. “Senator Harris, let him answer.” "

      Harris later tweeted: "It was a simple question. Can Sessions point to the policy, in writing, that allows him to not answer a whole host of our questions today."

      "Neither Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) nor Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), who were fairly aggressive in their questioning, was cut off by their colleagues.

      Burr and McCain also cut off Harris while she questioned Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein last week. "

      I guess the misogyny of Trump has trickled down to the male members of Congress and they aren't even trying to hide it.

      Lucky for us, Kamala Harris persisted.

      Delete
  3. Hedgewytch2:10 PM

    If the intelligence community didn't brief the AG, then that's because Sessions is a) implicated in their investigations, or b) they felt the information would be compromised by Sessions to Trump and/or others who are under investigation.

    If Sessions did not call to be briefed on this issue he is either a) incompetent, b) in collusion with a cover up, or c) guilty of involvement.

    Is there any other way to see this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you are absolutely correct.

      Delete
    2. He also said he wouldn't discuss Trump and his conversations, "...I wouldn't give it away..." -- behind the back of Trump -- give WHAT away ?

      The Dem Senator member questioning him said, "Give it away?" but Sessions overrode it and the moment was lost.

      Has anybody else seen any follow up on that?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous7:05 PM

      http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/unless-youre-7-or-younger-stop-it-seth-meyers-ridicules-trump-for-reminding-the-press-about-his-birthday/

      "...I wouldn't give it away..." -- behind the back of Trump -- give WHAT away ? "It's in there^

      Delete
    4. Anonymous4:01 AM

      Saying that he "wouldn't give [it] away" when answering questions about conversations with Trump implies, to my mind, that a lot was said during those conversations that are very germane to the investigation. Sessions managed to put his foot in his mouth repeatedly. He came across as a not-very-smart elderly ex-senator who is desperate to keep his new job and who hasn't the vaguest idea of the duties of the new job. At the very least he has serious "memory" problems. At the most, he spent the day lying before members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Either way, he did not look good. Bad day for the Deep South.
      Beaglemom

      Delete
  4. Anonymous2:10 PM

    Told you that he'd do that!
    Not being a snob; just SOP!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous2:13 PM

    Session sure couldn't recall much. Between his memory problems and the Fictious policy that Sessions kept referring to so he could not answer any questions about his conversations with Trump, sessions answered nothing. Horrid little elf.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:21 PM

      And when he and McCain got together it was two old men shoring up each other.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous2:18 PM

    Jeff Sessions Insists He’s Not ‘Stonewalling’ By Not Answering Questions

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sessions-testimony-stonewalling_us_59404fcae4b0d318548592d2?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous2:36 PM

    Come on now, we need to give the little Keebler elf a break because it seems that he has a very, very, very poor memory ;-)

    I can honestly say that makes him very unfit for his present job because if there is one thing that legal professionals keep very sharp it is their memories and if they doubt their ability to secure an important even in the brains the make notes, either on paper or on their computer or tablet.

    Coming from a family of legal professionals I find Sessions to be more than a bit disingenuous regarding his "lack of recollection" and if he is so sloppy in recording important events and even more importantly if his memory is truly failing then he needs to step away from his current position because is is extremely unfit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:30 PM

      +++ this

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5:03 PM

      The Confederate Keebler should resign for mental health reasons immediately.
      Beaglemom

      Delete
    3. Anonymous6:00 PM

      http://www.palmerreport.com/politics/jeff-sessions-3-perjury/3442/

      Delete
  8. Anonymous2:48 PM

    RNC’s Funding Plea Attributed To Trump After Sessions Hearing: ‘WITCH-HUNT!’

    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rnc-fundraising-trump-sessions-witch-hunt

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous2:49 PM

    RNC now peddling propaganda and lies?

    https://twitter.com/ZekeJMiller/status/874740314535325696/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Ftalkingpointsmemo.com%2Flivewire%2Frnc-fundraising-trump-sessions-witch-hunt

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous2:53 PM

    BREAKING: John McCain Put Under Immediate Investigation For Money Trail Linked To Putin

    https://twitter.com/funder/status/874658226134011904

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:06 PM

      WOW!!! That would explain a few things, wouldn't it!

      Delete
    2. Under investigation by the Democratic Coalition. Which appears to be one man; Scott Dworkin.

      I don't consider twitter to be anything but fake news. Unless it is from a credible media source, then it isn't true unless confirmed by a credible media source.

      Who the hell is Scott Dworkin and what is the Democratic Coalition? 156,000 followers? Left wing crazies maybe?

      Anyone can make a fancy logo and call themselves a fancy name. Make themselves look good. That's what FAKE NEWS does all the time. They is how they are so successful. There is left wing fake news just like there is right wing fake news.

      When it hits the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal, then maybe I'll pay attention.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous2:54 PM

    Mitch McConnell Caught In Multi-Million Dollar Foreign Donation Scandal; Cash Links Traced

    ‘#TrumpLeaks Docs: Mitch McConnell linked super PAC took $2.5 million from a pro-Putin Ukrainian businessman last election cycle #trumprussia’

    http://bipartisanreport.com/2017/06/13/mitch-mcconnell-caught-in-multi-million-dollar-foreign-donation-scandal-cash-links-traced/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:23 PM

      "Dworkin also found that McConnell is not the only person who has benefited from a pro-Putin businessman. He tweeted a couple of days later photos of documents that show Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker also received money from this “pro-Putin” individual during the last election cycle."

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5:02 PM

      I wonder how long the GOP has been on the receiving end of Russian money. it didn't just happen last week. Are all Republicans traitors now?
      Beaglemom

      Delete
    3. Scott Dworkin again?

      When major journalism sources carry this and confirm it, then maybe I'll believe it.

      Until then, this is left wing fake news.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous2:57 PM

    A GOP donor who once had ties to IBM is the man behind the millions of Twitter bots President Trump counts on as followers who could be employed to target voters with misleading or fake news on social media.

    In order for it to work, the scheme relies on the quiet guidance of Robert Mercer, a reclusive Republican mega-donor and staunch Trump supporter, sources told the Daily News.

    Mercer, who during the campaign with help from his daughter Rebekah, played a below-the-radar — but integral — role in raising money for Trump and connected him with critical figures like Stephen Bannon.

    He’s a former computer scientist who, decades ago, helped build the technology at IBM that the computer giant would later use to create its Watson super-computer. He also helped other companies like Apple form the basis for its Siri platform.

    Trump, meanwhile, has accrued among his 30 million Twitter followers — 15 million of which are actually bots that experts have told the Daily News could be “weaponized” to spread fake and misleading news stories that favor the White House or distract from the scandals it now faces.

    But with the subtle introduction of advanced technology, by individuals familiar with artificial intelligence, their effectiveness as it pertains to targeting users and interacting with them could escalate rapidly.

    http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/billionaire-gop-patron-behind-trump-social-media-bot-army-article-1.3236933

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous3:01 PM

    WHY did he recuse himself from the Russian investigation then??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Understanding answers were like trying to wash cobwebs.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous3:04 PM

    Cindy McCain joins Trump’s State Department

    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/cindy-mccain-joins-trumps-state-department/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:14 PM

      Way to twist the knife in her old man's side :-)

      Delete
  15. Anonymous3:06 PM

    Kamala Harris scorches Jeff Sessions on Twitter for ducking questions at contentious hearing

    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/kamala-harris-scorches-jeff-sessions-on-twitter-for-ducking-questions-at-contentious-hearing/

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous3:06 PM

    Well now .

    If you work for trump the liar weasel .You most certainly must know home to lie, no not just lie
    , but be a habitual liar like the trump.
    Gosh I detest trump!
    Sessions is a Damn liar and a so funny looking retarded son of a bitch !
    I cannot even stand to see his face and trumps.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous3:28 PM

    Sessions just insulted the intel community. They’ll respond in spades.

    http://www.palmerreport.com/opinion/sessions-outburst-leaks/3447/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Opinion.

      Palmer.

      Enough said.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous3:28 PM

    Sessions and Trump match perfectly! Both are fucking liars!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous3:35 PM

    There is a full force “crackdown” w/ POTUS ready to possibly pull the plug on Reince at moment's notice. Stage set for trickle down firings.

    https://twitter.com/RoguePOTUSStaff/status/874772004414652417

    https://twitter.com/RoguePOTUSStaff/status/874770561427230720

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:30 AM

      Mass firings are about due. Spread the blame.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous3:37 PM

    "There is no attorney-client privilege. There has been no executive privilege asserted; either it is asserted or the questions must be answered."The Attorney General doesn’t work for the President. The Attorney General is supposed to keep a wall of separation between the White House and DOJ investigations, and Mike Huckabee’s attempt to mislead on this point is a perfect example why Republicans are a threat to democracy."

    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/06/13/mike-huckabee-defends-trump-sessions-showing.html

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous3:45 PM

    big thread...

    https://twitter.com/RoguePOTUSStaff

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:25 PM

      "But the brainwashing now runs deep.
      {666} Pence is content to be shadow-potus while POTUS is serves as a ceremonial money hook. aka
      $$$ot!

      Delete
  22. Anonymous4:00 PM


    ".....John McCain, who is not a member of this committee, to ride to his rescue."..

    =================
    WANNA KNOW WHY?
    COULD BE BECAUSE....
    ================

    RawStory:
    Cindy McCain joins Trump’s State Department

    After months of rejecting multiple job requests, businesswoman Cindy McCain has accepted a State Department position in the Trump administration, sourced told the Daily Beast on Monday.

    Two senior administration officials, who requested anonymity, claimed it is a "done deal" for both parties. President Trump "aggressively courted" McCain to accept a position in his administration. Her potential title is a "U.S. ambassador-at-large for human rights."....

    Read more at
    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/cindy-mccain-joins-trumps-state-department/


    AWWWW THAT'S WHY

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:59 PM

      "Human rights"! What does beer baroness Cindy McCain know about human rights? For that matter, what does Trump know about human rights?
      Beaglemom

      Delete
  23. Anonymous4:23 PM

    Remember Trump’s Promise Not to Touch Social Security? It’s Gone Now

    http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/06/trumps-promise-not-to-touch-social-security-is-gone-now.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Is anyone surprised?

      They'll delay it until after the 2018 elections. Fortified by their people being re-elected, showing that the protests are all hot air and not enough to replace them with Democrats that would oppose them.

      Delete
  24. Anonymous4:29 PM

    ...and if anyone thinks that $arah doesn't have her mitts in this as well, I'll sell you a bridge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:09 PM

      That's hilarious! Even in her political heyday she was just a bit player, not to mention a total political lightweight. She has nary the connections nor the intelligence to mastermind any sort of international plot.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4:52 AM

      @ 4:49pm dont give that dumb ass ditzy bitch too much credit.

      Delete
  25. Scruffer4:34 PM

    He mentions his conversation with the Russian Ambassador (why was the Russian Ambassador at the republican convention????), but later says he didn't have any contact with any Russians.
    Did nobody catch that??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:50 AM

      I wanted to know why the russian ambassador was at the convention also.

      They also changed the platform to favor russia over the Ukraine. Is that why he was there?

      Delete
  26. Scruffer4:35 PM

    He mentions his conversation with the Russian Ambassador (why was the Russian Ambassador at the republican convention????), but later says he didn't have any contact with any Russians.
    Did nobody catch that??

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous4:55 PM

    Why did he KEEP trying to say colleague again and again?
    Sorry dude you gave up that job and it's privileges to go jiggle the balls of the orange ogre.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous4:58 PM

    If Sessions' memory is that bad, he should retire from public life. He's not been asked about events that happened in 2006, but events that happened only months or weeks ago.
    Beaglemom

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous5:11 PM

    Little Beau Peep, lost his memory. Maybe Russian hookers could help him remember?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Don't forget his constant "it would be inappropriate" dodging.

    He was point blank called for stonewalling. Which of course he denied.

    Then he was told that "inappropriate" was not an excuse.

    ""There is no legally binding basis for refusing to answer questions unrelated to an ongoing investigation unless the President is invoking executive privilege," William Yeomans, a 26-year veteran of the Justice Department and fellow at American University Law School, told CNN."That privilege is not absolute -- it can be overcome by a sufficient interest. DOJ traditionally does not discuss ongoing investigations in public, but ultimately must answer questions unless executive privilege is properly invoked and upheld.""

    http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/13/politics/jeff-sessions-testimony-executive-privilege/index.html

    He got schooled by Senator Martin Heinrich too.

    http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/13/politics/martin-heinrich-jeff-sessions-impede-obstruction-cnntv/index.html

    "A Democratic senator who questioned Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday said he thinks Sessions' refusal to answer some questions suggests there is a "concerted effort" from the administration to obstruct the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

    At Tuesday's hearing, New Mexico Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich told Sessions he was "impeding" the congressional investigation by not answering questions.
    "I have deep concerns any time a sitting attorney general refuses to answer questions under oath, and the attorney general refused time and time again, without ever invoking executive privilege," Heinrich said on CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront." "He seemed to invent a brand new legal standard of 'appropriateness.' This is not a backyard barbecue. You either answer the question under oath, or you invoke executive privilege.""

    I listened to Sessions on NPR while I was driving today. Didn't hear all of it. But from what I heard the Republicans basically lobbed softballs and the Democrats were stonewalled.

    I must say I was surprised Rubio was as tenacious as he was, but in the end he sucked up to the party in interviews after the fact. Claire McCaskill got in quite a few good jabs; good for her.

    I really liked Martin Heinrich for his calling Sessions on the "inappropriate" bullshit and for the guy right before him for calling him on stonewalling.

    http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/jeff-sessions-legal-outlook-235630

    "Even if Attorney General Jeff Sessions didn't commit perjury during his confirmation hearing, Sessions could still be in other kinds of legal trouble for failing to tell his Senate colleagues that he met the Russian ambassador on two occasions during the heat of the presidential campaign."

    (And his excuses were LAME.)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous6:41 PM

    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/former-federal-prosecutor-if-trump-isnt-already-the-subject-of-a-criminal-investigation-he-imminently-will-be/

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous7:56 PM

    Sessions does not pass the smell test. If he is such a honest, straight, pure, law maker? Why and how on earth is he in the trump dump. Has he not investigated trump? He is associating with a documented known liar, rapist, con artist and thug bully. All of trumps friends and associates has similar problems and session defends this? He believes as trump believes he says? Really? and the wife sits there and says nothing? Really? Trump must have something on sessions.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous9:34 PM

    I know NOTHINK!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous1:00 AM

    Did you see the look on the little elf's face when the senator from RI, hit him with his comments about Comey and emails press conference. If looks could kill.

    So if Sessions thought Comey was doing such a wonderful job last fall(after throwing Hillary under the bus) and never spoke to him about what a disaster the FBI was, how come all of a sudden trump gets "elected" and the FBI is a mess.

    I think they made up some cover story, since there is no documentation of performance reviews, they made up the story this spring when Comey wouldn't agree to stop the russian investigation.

    Why did he bring his wife?

    What about his verbal charade about the "long time policy" of not discussing conversations with the president. Does it only exist in elf land?

    If you notice, each senator got 5 mins, sessions seemed to repeat the same lengthy non-answer over and over, was that to run out the clock?

    Also they grilled Hillary for 11 hours, this guy was there for 1-2 hours.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Lucky for us, Kamala Harris persisted.

    ReplyDelete

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