Senate

Leahy to Sessions: ‘You can’t run forever’

by Rebecca Savransky - 06/11/17 11:30 AM ET

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has a message for Attorney General Jeff Sessions: “You can’t run forever.”

“Atty Gen. Sessions provided false testimony in response to questions from me and @SenFranken about his contacts with Russian officials,” Leahy tweeted Saturday.

“Now, twice in 2 mos., AG Sessions cancels an Approps hg in which I could Q him about his false testimony and half-hearted Russia recusal,” the Democratic senator said in a subsequent tweet.

“My mssg to AttyGen Sessions: Approps & Judiciary have oversight of DOJ. You need to testify before both in public. You can’t run forever,” Leahy concluded on Sunday.

Atty Gen. Sessions provided false testimony in response to questions from me and @SenFranken about his contacts with Russian officials. (1)

— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) June 10, 2017

(2) Now, twice in 2 mos., AG Sessions cancels an Approps hg in which I could Q him about his false testimony and half-hearted Russia recusal

— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) June 11, 2017

3) My mssg to AttyGen Sessions: Approps & Judiciary have oversight of DOJ. You need to testify before both in public. You can’t run forever.

— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) June 11, 2017

{mosads}Sessions was supposed to testify in front of the House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees this week but said in a statement he would send Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to that hearing.

Instead, Sessions will testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is investigating any ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

“In light of reports regarding Mr. Comey’s recent testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, it is important that I have an opportunity to address these matters in the appropriate forum,” Sessions said in a statement.

“The Senate Intelligence Committee is the most appropriate forum for such matters, as it has been conducting an investigation and has access to relevant, classified information.”

Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation in March after it was revealed that he did not disclose two meetings he had with the Russian ambassador during the course of the Trump campaign.

Comey reportedly told lawmakers that Sessions might have had a third undisclosed meeting during a closed session after his public testimony last Thursday.

Tags Jeff Sessions Patrick Leahy