NEWPORT NEWS, United States (AFP) – President Donald Trump declared “total” confidence in his attorney general Thursday in the face of mounting calls for his resignation over undisclosed contacts with Russia during the US election campaign.
Revelations that Attorney General Jeff Sessions met twice last year with the US ambassador to Russia – a direct contradiction of his Senate confirmation testimony – appeared to come as a surprise to the White House.
Speaking to reporters aboard the new aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, Trump said he “wasn’t aware” of Sessions’ meetings with the Russian envoy, Sergey Kislyak.
But asked whether he retained confidence in Sessions, Trump responded: “Total.”
The revelations ignited calls by Democratic leaders for the attorney general’s resignation, and the naming of a special prosecutor to investigate possible connections between Trump’s entourage, Moscow, and Russian interference in last year’s election.
“The fact that the attorney general, the top cop in our country, lied under oath to the American people is grounds for him to resign,” Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader, said. “He has proved that he is unqualified and unfit to serve in that position of trust.”
“The Department of Justice should be above reproach,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “For the good of the country, Attorney General Sessions should resign.”
Even some prominent Republican lawmakers joined in calling for Sessions to recuse himself from Justice Department and FBI investigations into allegations of Russian election meddling and contacts with Trump campaign advisers.
“AG Sessions should clarify his testimony and recuse himself,” Jason Chaffetz, a member of the House Government Oversight Committee, tweeted. But Trump said Sessions was “probably” truthful when he told the Senate January 10 that he did not have communications with the Russians. And asked whether Sessions should recuse himself, Trump said, “I don’t think so.”
Sessions denied any wrongdoing but told NBC News: “I have said whenever it’s appropriate, I will recuse myself. There’s no doubt about that.”
“I have not met with any Russians at any time to discuss any political campaign, and those remarks are unbelievable to me and are false. And I don’t have anything else to say about that.”
