King Presses Attorney General on Refusal to Answer Questions

Press Release

During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) pressed Attorney General Jeff Sessions on his repeated refusal to answer questions from members of the Committee about the ongoing investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election.

"You testified a few minutes ago -- I'm not able to invoke Executive Privilege -- that's up to the President. Has the President invoked Executive Privilege in the case of your testimony here today," Senator King asked.

"He has not," the Attorney General responded, to which Senator King asked: "Then what is the basis of your refusal to answer these questions? […] You said you don't have the power to assert the power of Executive Privilege. What is the legal basis for your refusal to answer these questions?"

The Attorney General responded that he was protecting the right of the President to assert Executive Privilege if he chooses.

"You can't have it both ways," Senator King said, who then went on to point out that Attorney General Sessions had previously testified about a conversation he had with the President. "You're being selective."

Additionally, Senator King was able to get Attorney General Sessions to confirm that he believed Russia did interfere in the 2016 presidential election and, in response to another question from Senator King, the Attorney General said that he did not seek a briefing on Russia's interference in the election, despite his nomination as Attorney General and the Intelligence Community's unanimous conclusion that Russia did indeed interfere.

"You never asked for a briefing or attended a briefing or read the Intelligence reports," Senator King asked. "I'm not talking about the campaign. I'm talking about what the Russians did. You received no briefing on the Russian active measures in connection with the 2016 election?"

"No, I don't believe I ever did," the Attorney General responded.

During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing last week, Senator King also grilled the nation's top Intelligence Community officials on their refusal to also answer questions before the Committee, despite having no legal standing to do so -- as the Director of National Intelligence admitted.

Source