AG Sessions recuses self from probe

WASHINGTON - US Attorney General Jeff Sessions abruptly agreed Thursday to recuse himself from any investigation into Russian meddling in America's 2016 presidential election. He acted after revelations he twice spoke with the Russian ambassador during the campaign and failed to say so when pressed by Congress.

Sessions rejected any suggestion that he had tried to mislead anyone about his contacts with the Russian, saying, "That is not my intent. That is not correct."

Referring to his testimony during his confirmation hearing, he said, "I should have slowed down and said, 'But I did meet one Russian official a couple of times.'"

The White House has stood by Sessions, though officials say they first learned about his contacts with the ambassador from a reporter Wednesday night. US President Donald Trump said Thursday he had "total" confidence in Sessions and didn't think he needed to recuse himself, not long before he did.

One of Sessions' conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak occurred at a July event on the sidelines of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. At that same event, the ambassador also spoke with Carter Page, who briefly advised Trump's campaign on foreign policy, according to a person with knowledge of the discussion. USA Today reported on Thursday that J.D. Gordon, who was the Trump campaign's director of national security, also met the ambassador.

Flynn was fired last month for misleading Vice-President Mike Pence about his contacts with Kislyak.

The White House official and the person with knowledge of Page's discussion insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly disclose the meetings.

Trump has been trailed for months by questions about potential ties to Russia, and allegations of Russian efforts to interfere in the US election to help him defeat Hillary Clinton. The president and his campaign officials have blamed such contentions on Democratic sore losers and have heatedly denied any contact with Russians concerning the election.

While there is nothing necessarily unusual about a member of Congress meeting with a foreign ambassador, typically members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee meet with foreign ambassadors, not Armed Services Committee lawmakers, such as Sessions, whose responsibility is oversight of the military and the Pentagon.

The attorney general, an early backer and key adviser for Trump's campaign, said he decided to recuse himself for investigations that are underway and others to come after his staff recommended he do so. Acting Deputy Attorney General Dana Boente will handle such matters for now.

Sessions added that his announcement "should not be interpreted as confirmation of the existence of any investigation".

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who had accused Sessions of "lying under oath", repeated her call for his resignation after he recused himself. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said a special prosecutor should be appointed.

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said it was normal for Russian diplomats to meet with US lawmakers. A spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, told AP that meetings with American political figures were part of the embassy's "everyday business".

The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was "media vandalism". And the Kremlin lamented the "emotional atmosphere" currently in Washington about Sessions' meetings.