Sessions would have power to stop FBI investigations, ex-attorney general says

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) pressed former Attorney General Michael Mukasey Wednesday on whether Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be attorney general, would have the power to stop an FBI investigation into allegations that members of Trump’s campaign coordinated with Russia’s interference in the U.S. election.

“He has the power to stop an investigation at the FBI, is that what you’re telling me?” Durbin asked.

“Yes,” Mukasey replied.

The line of questioning came on the second day of confirmation hearings for Sessions, which features witness testimony but no comments from Sessions.  

{mosads}It followed a Tuesday night CNN report that intelligence officials had briefed Trump on alleged claims that Russia has compromising financial and personal information about him and allegations that there was an ongoing exchange of information between Trump surrogates and Russian government intermediaries.

Trump called the report “utter nonsense.”

“Russia just said the unverified report paid for by political opponents is A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE.’ Very unfair!” he tweeted Wednesday.

Russia just said the unverified report paid for by political opponents is “A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE.” Very unfair!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017

When questioned during Tuesday’s hearing, Sessions said he would recuse himself from any investigations into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server because he criticized her during the presidential campaign.

But when asked if he would take similar action regarding any investigations into Trump, he said he’d have to review the case. 

“I would review it and try to do the right thing as to whether it should stay within the jurisdiction of the attorney general or not,” he said.