Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday said the special counsel has not contacted his office about a potential interview as part of its investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.
“I would just say, Sen. Blumenthal, my staff handed me a note that I have not been asked for an interview at this point,” Sessions told Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) several minutes after a heated exchange over the matter.
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“My office certainly hasn’t been contacted with regard to that. Maybe you better check your source,” he added.
Sessions made the statement during testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Department of Justice oversight. He previously said the special counsel has not conducted an interview with him.
The counsel’s probe, led by former FBI director Robert Mueller, is investigating into Russia’s election interference and any potential ties between President Trump’s campaign staff members and the Kremlin.
Earlier in the hearing, Sessions said he did not “recall” being contacted by the counsel but would let the committee know “within hours.”
“I’m asking you the question, hasn’t your office been contacted to request an interview with you by the special counsel? That’s a yes or no — ” Blumenthal asked Sessions.
“Well, I don’t — I don’t think so,” Sessions replied.
But Blumenthal pressed Sessions, asking the attorney general if he was “sure” the special counsel had not reached out to his office.
“I’d be perfectly willing to respond to the special counsel in any way, but I don’t recall that I have been contacted.” Sessions said. “I certainly have not spoken directly to with anybody in the special counsel office.”
When the senator again pushed the attorney general to answer the question in front of the committee, Sessions said he did not want to be “trapped.”
“Well I don’t know, I don’t recall that I’ve ever been asked to provide any interview with the special counsel. You seem to know so I don’t want to come in here and be trapped and you know something I don’t know,” Sessions said. “Maybe shared it with somebody in my office or something. So, I would check and let you know.”