Did Sessions meet with the Russian ambassador at the Mayflower Hotel? https://t.co/uBu3t5gxeR pic.twitter.com/UfzaqHlemf
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) June 1, 2017
FIRST ON CNN: Congress is investigating another possible meeting between Sessions and Russia's Kislyak, sources say https://t.co/bVsEpqesuk
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) June 1, 2017
NBC News:
The FBI and Congress are examining a campaign event last spring during which Donald Trump, Jeff Sessions and Jared Kushner were in a small gathering with Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak and other diplomats at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel, multiple U.S. officials told NBC News.
Five current and former U.S. officials said they are aware of classified intelligence suggesting there was some sort of private encounter between Trump and his aides and the Russian envoy, despite a heated denial from Sessions, who has already come under fire for failing to disclose two separate contacts with Kislyak. Kushner also denied through a spokesman that he met privately with Kislyak that day.
The officials acknowledged to NBC News that the evidence does not amount to proof, and they have declined to provide details about it…
Any confirmation of a private meeting with Kislyak in April would raise a host of questions, most particularly for Sessions.
April 2016 is when officials at the Democratic National Committee first noticed suspicious activity on their network — activity they would later learn was part of a Russian hack.
At Sessions’ confirmation hearing in January, Sen. Franken asked him, “If there is any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of this campaign, what will you do?”
Sessions replied: “Senator Franken, I’m not aware of any of those activities. I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I did not have communications with the Russians, and I’m unable to comment on it.” …
At least the OG Trump Crime Cartel had the excuse that (a) they were desperate for money; and (b) they’re morons, as well as political naifs, who had no way of understanding what they were doing — or, rather, letting Putin do. But the Malevolent Leprechaun? He knew.
He knew exactly how dangerous these people were, and how close to treason he himself was skirting. He just didn’t care, because he wanted a win (however temporary) for his clan, the Republican Party. The chance for a bigger stick that he could use to punish uppity people of color and women like Hillary Clinton meant more to him than selling his country out.
When do we conclude as a nation that our AG probably perjured himself before Congress? https://t.co/sTHerW6xEH
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) June 1, 2017
Late Night Open Thread: Speaking of Russian Assets…Post + Comments (98)