Sessions Acknowledges Trump Hasn’t Invoked Executive Privilege, But Cites It

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday said President Donald Trump has not invoked executive privilege, though Sessions cited it several times as the reason for his refusal to answer questions from the Senate Intelligence Committee.

“Has the President invoked executive privilege in the case of your testimony here today?” Sen. Angus King (I-ME) asked.

“He has not,” Sessions replied.

“Then what is the basis of your refusal to answer these questions?” King pressed. “The President hasn’t asserted it. You said you don’t have the power to assert the power of executive privilege, so what is the legal basis for your refusal to answer these questions?”

“I’m protecting the right of the President to assert it if he chooses,” Sessions said.

Latest Livewire
21
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. I am not pleading the fifth but iam not going to answer certain questions encase i want to plead the fifth at a latter date.

    I am guessing that defense wouldn’t work for me in court.

  2. Because f’ck you, That’s why. Just F’ck you.

  3. “I’m protecting the right of the President to assert it if he chooses,” Sessions said.

    After the fact? I don’t really think it works that way. But then again, I wouldn’t expect our AG to know that.

  4. Whiteboar has the most simple and correct answer I’ve ever seen of the Whiny administration’s entire attitude.

  5. Avatar for pac pac says:

    Angus King’s questions were impressive.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

15 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for lestatdelc Avatar for pac Avatar for ncsteve Avatar for imkmu3 Avatar for fargo116 Avatar for sniffit Avatar for whiteboar Avatar for cd Avatar for ottnott Avatar for musgrove Avatar for mikeyz99 Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for cuwrs

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: