A.G. Sessions perjured himself in Congressional hearings and by his own standards, must resign

Rep. Langevin joins calls for Sessions’ resignation

By Will Collette

It seems like the growing scandal of ties between Trump, his regime and the Russian government controlled by Vladimir Putin is beginning to look a lot like the infamous Watergate scandal. Thus the  growing use of the title “Russiagate” for this mess.

The parallels with Watergate are also becoming clearer, including Watergate’s greatest lesson that it isn’t necessary the crime that gets you, it’s the cover-up. 

Although the crime in this instance could very well be treason in the form of selling out US interests to our Cold War foe, the Russians.

Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions has opened up a new front in the Russiagate scandal by getting caught lying to Congress while under oath during his confirmation hearings. 

In two separate answers, Sessions denied that he had any contact with the Russian government during the Trump campaign in which he played a major role.

In fact, Sessions had two meetings with Russia’s Ambassador to the US. The content of his conversations with the Russian Ambassador have not been revealed yet.

Based on what appears to be a crime – perjury before Congress – numerous members of Congress are calling on Sessions to resign his position as Attorney General. 

Even Republican Congressional leaders could not ignore Sessions’ apparent transgressions and are calling on him to, at minimum, recuse himself from investigations into Russia’s efforts to manipulate the 2016 elections.

Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) issued a statement, published in full below, saying “Sessions has lost the trust of the American people, and he should resign immediately.”

This is Sessions' 1999 statement on why Bill Clinton should be removed
for perjury

Sessions himself set out the standards that should lead to his own removal in his 1999 remarks on the “serious allegations” of perjury brought against President Bill Clinton over the Monica Lewinski affairs, saying “In America, the Supreme Court and the American people believe no one is above the law.”

Sessions voted “guilty” when President Clinton was tried for perjury and obstruction of justice during his impeachment trial.

Now the shoe is on the other foot and it is Sessions who could face the same criminal charges of perjury and obstruction of justice for lying to Congress. Even George W. Bush’s ethics counsel Richard Painter calls Sessions’ actions “a good way to go to jail.”

The Watergate scandal ruined the lives and careers of two Attorneys General, John Mitchell and Richard Kliendienst. It also shook the nation to its core and challenged its democratic institutions.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the broad and deep ties between Vladimir Putin’s government and the Trump regime could pose an even greater threat to American democracy. 

As Rep. Langevin argues in the following statement, Russiagate must be thoroughly investigated by an impartial bi-partisan body because “the American people deserve nothing less than the unvarnished truth."

Langevin Calls for Resignation of Attorney General Sessions

Continues Push for Independent Investigation and

Passage of Langevin Resolution to Create Joint Congressional Committee on Russian Interference

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jim Langevin (RI-02) today issued the following statement calling for the immediate resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions:

"As the nation's top law enforcement officer who oversees both the Department of Justice and the FBI, the Attorney General must operate with the complete trust and confidence of the American people.

“That trust has been irrevocably shaken following revelations that Attorney General Sessions provided false testimony – under oath – to the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation hearings.

“Sessions clearly stated at the hearings that he did not have contact with Russian officials throughout the campaign; however, he has now admitted that he did, in fact, meet with the Russian Ambassador twice last year.

“Continuing an unfortunate pattern of senior Trump Administration officials, Sessions has lost the trust of the American people, and he should resign immediately.

 

"This is also just one more example of the need to determine the extent of Russia's involvement with Trump officials both during and after the campaign. We need a full, independent commission to look into the facts as well as a coordinated Congressional inquiry, which is why I strongly urge House and Senate leaders to bring up my bill to establish a bipartisan, bicameral joint committee to investigate Russian interference.

“The reports that have continued to emerge underscore the need to get to the bottom of this, and the American people deserve nothing less than the unvarnished truth."