Sessions discussed Trump campaign-related matters with Russian ambassador, U.S. intelligence

[herding cats]

Sessions discussed Trump campaign-related matters with Russian ambassador, U.S. intelligence intercepts show

Russia’s ambassador to Washington told his superiors in Moscow that he discussed campaign-related matters, including policy issues important to Moscow, with Jeff Sessions during the 2016 presidential race, contrary to public assertions by the embattled attorney general, according to current and former U.S. officials.

Ambassador Sergey Kislyak’s accounts of two conversations with Sessions — then a top foreign policy adviser to Republican candidate Donald Trump — were intercepted by U.S. spy agencies, which monitor the communications of senior Russian officials both in the United States and in Russia. Sessions initially failed to disclose his contacts with Kislyak and then said that the meetings were not about the Trump campaign.

One U.S. official said that Sessions — who testified that he has no recollection of the April encounter — has provided “misleading” statements that are “contradicted by other evidence.” A former official said that the intelligence indicates that Sessions and Kislyak had “substantive” discussions on matters including Trump’s positions on Russia-related issues and prospects for U.S.-Russia relations in a Trump administration.


Sessions has said repeatedly that he never discussed campaign-related issues with Russian officials and that it was only in his capacity as a U.S. Senator that he met with Kislyak.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-discussed-trump-campaign-related-matters-with-russian-ambassador-us-intelligence-intercepts-show/2017/07/21/3e704692-6e44-11e7-9c15-177740635e83_story.html?tid=a_breakingnews&utm_term=.540b5de9204d

Who here is surprised by this news? I know I'm not.

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Russian Ambassador is a spy working for the KGB, they call it something else now, but same thing.

Sessions is a traitor too, but we knew that.

[misanthrope]

11. Well, he's a Confederate at heart so yeah

he's always been a traitor.

[Kingofalldems]

2. Boom!

Link to tweet

[Leghorn21]

4. Ye haw, it's BOOM o'clock!! nt

[malaise]

12. In the NYT interview the Con said Sessions lied about the meeting

so we know from where these leaks are flowing.

Get the popcorn. The Con wants Sessions out - the thing is they are all LIARS starting with the Con.

[OnDoutside]

27. My gut says it's him as well, but I'm surprised WaPo would be drawn into it.

[herding cats]

34. This is a Trump attempt to hatchet Sessions, but there's no real proof. Not that I doubt it.

What will Sessions do ultimately is the question? I'm not sure myself, but many seem to think he'll fall on his sword and resign within days.

[OnDoutside]

3. How odd that this should appear at a moment when Trump would like to be rid of Sessions ????

[NightWatcher]

5. This much coincidence takes a ton of planning and cooperation.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

7. My thoughts exactly......

[Docreed2003]

8. Convenient isn't it

[herding cats]

9. Yep.

The timing is interesting.

[uponit7771]

10. +1

[malaise]

13. Ding ding

Heheheheheheh

[rzemanfl]

16. Yeah. Kinda fishy, not that I doubt he did it. n/t

[Duppers]

24. Just what I posted in another thread.

It's just too convenient.

Even Dana Bash (R- CNN) had the same observation.

[Old Terp]

25. I smell a very stinky dead rat.

In a normal world, I would be glad to see Sessions go. However, since he is out of the loop on all things Russia, replacing him with a Trump suck-up, would make getting rid of Muller much cleaner and easier--may be no need to fire anyone. If he has the guts to stay, we should let him. I will be so glad when all these Trump people are gone.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. It is vitally important that we enforce federal law fully whenever sick grannies eat pot brownies

perjury before congress? meh

[wishstar]

14. Trump can't lift sanctions without Atty Gen, Sec of State and Treasury Sec all going along

I read this recently, that Trump can only lift sanctions with those 3 Cabinet members approving. Mnuchin and Tillerson will go along, but Sessions is recused and will not go along.

I am willing to bet Trump told Putin or Russians that he could not lift sanctions because of Sessions recusal, so Russians are doing their best to help Trump by Kislyak releasing this to help Trump either fire Sessions or force him to resign, so Trump can appoint another Atty Gen. who will go along with lifting sanctions.

[Greywing]

18. I'm inclined to believe that as well ... and it won't matter if allegations are true or not

Trump will ask for Putin's help and try to destroy every one in his way ... he is "The Snake".

[GeoWilliam750]

20. Imagine if Sessions turns against Trump now

Imagine the United States Attorney General obtaining immunity for testifying against the President of the United States.

[herding cats]

29. That's what my first thought was.

A pipe dream I'm sure, but it would be so amazing!

[GeoWilliam750]

31. Yet..

Who would have the authority to sign off on the immunity deal?

[Duppers]

26. BINGO! nt

[Mrs. Overall]

15. I so want to see Trump and Sessions turn on each other.

It will be beautiful.

[OnDoutside]

17. MSNBC now reporting that Kushner has added dozens more records to his Financial Disclosure.

[herding cats]

21. He had a sudden memory jog, did he?

I wonder what prompted that?

[OnDoutside]

23. There's so much stuff coming out, it's so easy to forget !

[herding cats]

28. Mm hm. Who knew there would be such scrutiny at the top level.

Not the Trumps or Kushner apparently.

[OnDoutside]

30. True ! Though democracy is far from safe yet. The big plays

are about to happen I think.

[herding cats]

35. We're still in the opening acts.

The real drama hasn't even begun if I'm gauging this correctly.

It's going to be a bumpy ride before this one plays out.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

19. The Keebler cracker kissing on Kislyak

[herding cats]

22. Ha!

Well played!

[Kathy M]

32. So if there was anoother president al would be okay with this information

getting out and talked about non stop on cable ?

When from the article "“Obviously I cannot comment on the reliability of what anonymous sources describe in a wholly uncorroborated intelligence intercept that the Washington Post has not seen and that has not been provided to me,” said Sarah Isgur Flores, a Justice Department spokeswoman in a statement. She reiterated that Sessions did not discuss interference in the election."

I do not like Sessions but I would prefer proof instead of this looking like a set up to stay on the Nixon story line .

gee I think it would be better to uncover all and not stop preemptively

[UTUSN]

33. I can't decide whether every night is a SHOCK or a Kickety-kick