Sessions recuses himself from Russian, campaign probes

Attorney General Jeff Sessions did not answer calls for his resignation Thursday, but said he would recuse himself from any investigations involving the 2016 presidential campaign, including dealings with Russia.

Sessions called a news conference torespond to reports that he did not disclose two meetings with the Russian ambassador to Washington during his confirmation hearings last month, prompting dozens of Democratic legislators to call for his resignation after just three weeks on the job.

Sessions said allegations he made false comments were not his “intention and are not correct.”

“Let me be clear, I never had a meeting with Russian operatives or intermediaries about the Trump campaign,” he said. Sessions said he “did not recall” much the meetings, but mentioned discussing topics like terrorism and Ukraine during a September meeting.

Sessions said he made the decision to recuse himself from any investigations pertaining to Russian interference in the 2016 election and the Trump campaign, of which he was a part of, at the direction of his his staff following an ethics review.

“I asked for a candid and honest opinion about what to do certain investigations,” he said, noting the statement did not confirm or deny any current or future probes.