Sessions To Testify Publicly (For Now)

By Jeralyn, Section Trump Administration
Posted on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 02:11:42 PM EST
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As of this moment, and of course subject to change (as is everything with the Trump Administration), Jefferson Sessions will testify publicly tomorrow about Russia.

Unfortunately, Senators want to ask him about the one meeting that probably wasn't a meeting, and he'll come out looking okay.

Members of the committee are likely to ask Sessions about a possible third undisclosed meeting that is now under investigation, according to media reports.

There was a meet and greet at the foreign policy speech in April 2016. There are photos of both of them. But according to most people, including the event host, there was just a meet and greet:

In April 2016, during Mr Trump’s presidential campaign, Mr Sessions and Mr Kislyak both attended a small event at which Mr Trump made a foreign policy speech.

A cocktail meet-and-greet hosted by US conservative organisation the National Interest took place in a private room at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC.

About “two dozen” people were present, according to the organisation, and it was immediately followed by Mr Trump’s address in which he called for an improved US-Russian relationship.

Sergey Kislyak sat in the front row and there was a meet and greet for him.

I don't think there's anything in the third meeting to sink Sessions. It was the Center for National Interest that invited him, not Trump. One person said he was at a private meeting before or after the meet and greet. I hope they focus on his role in firing Comey.

One person to follow if you're into criticizing Trump and Sessions over Comey firing (and his own): former US Attorney Preet Bahara. He's had a lot to say lately, all of it critical.

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Sessions To Testify Publicly (For Now) | 24 comments (24 topical)

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I don't think it's just the meetings... (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by Anne on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 09:04:26 PM EST

I think they want to know whether or if Sessions continued to be involved from the sidelines, despite his recusal. I think they want to know the level of his involvement in the decision to fire Comey. And with the rumors of Trump considering firing Mueller, I expect there will be some questions about that, too.

While I've never considered Sessions to be the sharpest knife in the drawer - he might be more like a spoon, actually - I don't expect him to drop any bombshells tomorrow, at least not on purpose.

Whatever Sessions says will be greeted by Trump and his supporters as proving whatever it is that needs to be proved, and it won't make a dent in their approval. It's like a mass delusion.

But here's the thing that needs attention: Democrats need to shift their attention to the GOP legislative horrors about to be perpetrated upon the country, and take a message to the people about what it is they would do, how they can improve the lives of average people. They have to be about something more than not-Trump, not-GOP; that should have been the one true lesson learned from the Clinton campaign.

Hi Anne! (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by Jeralyn on Tue Jun 13, 2017 at 11:44:09 AM EST

I'm glad to see you, it's been a long time.


Hi, Jeralyn! (none / 0) (#23)
by Anne on Tue Jun 13, 2017 at 12:05:09 PM EST

It has been some time, I know...

Hope things are going well for you - did I see that the TL Kid is making you a grandma? If so, I don't have to tell you - because I'm sure a lot of people here already did - what a wonderful thing it is to be a grandparent. I can almost not believe we are welcoming our fourth, in October - the oldest is almost 5, and the others will be 2 and 3, respectively.

I have to say they are a true bright spot in this dismal political situation, and sometimes, I just have to check out and be fully present in what's going on around me instead of being plugged into politics 24/7.

I gather you're still working - me, too, but trying to plan for retirement at the end of 2018 (assuming Trump doesn't end up destroying the economy, my 401(k) continues to grow, and we still have SS and Medicare...some days, I'm not very confident that those support systems will not somehow be mortally wounded by the president and the GOP).


: Yes, I'll be a (none / 0) (#24)
by Jeralyn on Wed Jun 14, 2017 at 10:34:15 AM EST

grandma in November -- they are having family over on June 24 to tell us all the gender (they get the results that day.) Very excited. And yes, still working. Welcome back!

Hi Anne! (none / 0) (#19)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 09:15:35 PM EST

I agree. Lawrence just said April Ryan, a white house reporter is reporting there is "mass hysteria" in the white house because it seems they are taking the Mueller threats seriously. And even if Trump is to stupid to understand the kind of political explosion it would cause, they do.

They are self destructing all by themselves.

I completely agree our side should be trying to tell people there is more to the world than not Trump.


: Hi, Capt! (none / 0) (#21)
by Anne on Tue Jun 13, 2017 at 06:41:44 AM EST

Hope all is well in your corner of the planet!
Pretty sure "mass hysteria" in the WH is the order of most days there - what's the next level up from hysteria? Because if they are hysterical now, I think they have something orders of magnitude worse in their future.
Am just hoping the country doesn't explode in this long, hot summer...I think the signs are there, and that worries me.

could be great tv (none / 0) (#1)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 04:44:51 PM EST

the committee supposedly knows whatever it was Comey was refering to in his testimony that he could not discuss in the open hearing because he told them in the closed hearing.

it could get real interesting.

i think one of the most interesting things said in that previous hearing was this

I want to say personally, on behalf of all the committee members, we're grateful to you for your service to your country, not just in the capacity as FBI director, but as prosecutor, and more importantly, being somebody that loves this country enough to tell it like it is.
- Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.

"tell it like it is". very interesting thing to say for the republican chairman

Apparently (none / 0) (#2)
by FlJoe on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 05:31:51 PM EST

the son in law set up the speech,

The Center for the National Interest was originally contacted by Trump's savvy son-in-law, Jared Kushner, about hosting the event

I still think Sessions is hiding something, why did he not announce this meet and greet in his amended testimony? Out of an abundance of caution if nothing else. It appears to me it was more formal and documented than his meeting at the convention which he blew off as an informal meet and greet, why "forget" this one.

Also from Comey's testimony it appears that the FBI had evidence of a more substantial meeting as early as the Valentine's day episode, probably long before, and used it as part of the deliberation on what to tell Sessions.

Comey's gambit leads me to believe that that
this evidence had not been discredited before Comey left, and probably not since.

it seems (none / 0) (#3)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 05:37:29 PM EST

he has agreed to testify in an open hearing but he HAS NOT agreed to testify in a closed hearing. interesting choice. he can, and almost certainly will, say he cant discuss anything worth discussing because its an open hearing.

the ony interesting question is will they let him get away with it. more sepcifically will the republicans let him get away with it.


CNN (none / 0) (#4)
by FlJoe on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 05:52:35 PM EST

is reporting he may claim executive privilege for "some" testimony, I'm guessing that means anything after he was sworn in, probably the transistion also, however that won't fly for his actions during the campaign and virtually none of it can be considered classified in any way.


and it wont fly (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 06:00:14 PM EST

with Mueller.

i really think Trump will fire, or try to fire, Mueller.

i dont think he will be able to stop himself. and the Newts of the world are egging him on.


Right (none / 0) (#10)
by FlJoe on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 06:30:39 PM EST

on cue

Newsmax CEO and longtime Donald Trump confidante Chris Ruddy on Monday told PBS Newshour's July Woodruff the president is "considering perhaps terminating" Robert Mueller as special counsel in the Russia investigation.

oh yeah (none / 0) (#12)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 06:39:41 PM EST

i saw that before the comment


: Ruddy (none / 0) (#13)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 06:40:36 PM EST

was at the White House today

Chris Ruddy? Christ. (none / 0) (#14)
by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 07:38:14 PM EST

That right-wing crackpot used to be a regular on the late George Putnam's show in L.A. during the Clinton witch hunt in the '90s. He was convinced that Hillary and Vince Foster were lovers and that she had him murdered.

These yahoos take out Robert Mueller at their own peril.


yet (none / 0) (#15)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 07:44:09 PM EST

even Ruddy said on PBS that he "hopes he doesnt" fire him.

one of the reasons i think its inevitable.


: i mentioned Ruddy (none / 0) (#16)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 07:56:02 PM EST

was at the White House today. since heard his meeting was cancelled. assuming thats true one might think Trump cancelled it because he was going to advise against this so Ruddy, of NEWSMAX, goes on PBS??? to get a message to Trump?
it could also be an elaborate troll. i guess. you would think if he really wanted to get a message to Trump he would go on FOX or something similar.
seems like the "message" might have been meant for another audience. and the meeting was not cancelled at all.
11 dimensional checkers.

Yeah he colored a book called (none / 0) (#17)
by jondee on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 08:28:21 PM EST

The Mysterious Death of Vince Foster, or some effin' thing..

These people have become more unhinged over liberals than Wahabis are about mini skirts and plunging necklines.


yeah (none / 0) (#5)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 05:57:46 PM EST

i think the whole "insisting on testifying publicaly" might end up being to clever by half.


Or (none / 0) (#8)
by FlJoe on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 06:22:11 PM EST

maybe Sessions falling on his sword, he seems to be of little use and currently out of favor with tRump, or maybe more like being forced to walk the plank. Sessions being forced to resign will monetarily take the heat off and further degrade the justice department.


he is so short (none / 0) (#9)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 06:30:23 PM EST

he would have to stand on a chair to fall on a sword.


: Well (none / 0) (#11)
by FlJoe on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 06:32:02 PM EST

then, walk the plank it is.

Ken Dilanian (none / 0) (#7)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 06:21:57 PM EST

who has been pretty good on this just said on Hardball that Al Franken, also on Hardball, made some news by,

"...he said for the first time...I think i heard him say...the reason people think there was a third meeting ....had to do with intercepted communications between Kislyak and his people. that had been my speculation and there was some indication of that from intelligence sources but no one had confirmed that..."

The first question for Foghorn (none / 0) (#20)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jun 12, 2017 at 09:47:58 PM EST

Should be will he resign if Trump tries to fire Mueller.

It might not be the first but he will be asked. I betcha