Collins: Sessions Should Recuse Himself From DOJ’s Investigation

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, questions Director of the National Security Agency (NSA), Gen. Keith B. Alexander, Rand Beers, Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Patrick Gallagher, director of the Commerce De... Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, questions Director of the National Security Agency (NSA), Gen. Keith B. Alexander, Rand Beers, Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Patrick Gallagher, director of the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Richard McFeely, Executive Assistant Director of Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch, Federal Bureau of Investigation, testify about NSA surveillance before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) MORE LESS
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Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) called for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from the Department of Justice’s investigation, presumably into possible ties between Trump campaign officials and Russian nationals during the 2016 campaign.

The senator’s statement followed revelations that Sessions met twice with the Russian ambassador to the United States during the campaign.

“Attorney General Sessions should recuse himself to ensure public confidence in the Justice Department’s investigation,” Collins said in a statement, which noted “reports that Attorney General Sessions spoke twice with the Russian ambassador last year.”

“He should also clarify his statements to the Judiciary Committee with respect to his communications with the Russian Ambassador,” Collins said.

Collins joins Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), who said Thursday morning that Sessions should similarly recuse himself from the Department of Justice’s Russia probe.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told reporters Thursday that Sessions should recuse himself from any potential investigations between the Trump campaign and Russia, “if there ever becomes enough evidence to suggest prosecution, or possible criminal prosecution.”

Graham noted the FBI director had not told him whether such an investigation was already underway.

Notable Replies

  1. Gee, thanks Suze – if you held your finger to the wind any longer, you would have gotten frostbite.

  2. The flood gates are opening wider…

  3. And a happy BENGHAZI to you, I might add!

  4. That’s three, in a town where counting is a big thing.

  5. This morning Sessions already offered to recuse himself “if it is appropriate.”

    But really that’s not enough. He has to resign.

    Unfortunately whether he resigns or recuses himself it’s not going to fix the problem as far as an independent investigation is concerned. As Louise Mensch (who is absolutely essential reading–she called this on Sessions, among many other things) notes, there was an executive order that made Dana Boente next in line at Justice. This is someone who is also deeply implicated in the scandal, again according to Mensch.

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