[indiscernible conversation] i call the hearing to order, please. Attorney general sessions, i appreciate your willingness to appear before the committee today. Thank you for your years of dedication. As i mentioned when director comey appeared before us last week, this committees role is to be the eyes in the ears of the other members of the United States senate. And sharing the Intelligence Community is operating lawfully. The community is a large and diverse place. We recognize the gravity of our 2016tigation into the elections but i remind our constituents that while we investigate russia, we are scrutinizing the cias budget while investigating russia, we are still investigating the budget and the 702 program, our nations subtly program and the entire effort to recruit and maintain the best talent we can. Conducts the committee its investigations behind closed doors. The sanctity of sources and methods is part of the ability to keep us safe. I said repeatedly i did not should doy c
It was also the first time the attorney general testified to Congress Since recusing himself of the russia investigation back in march. Id like to call the hearing to order, please. Attorney general sessions, i appreciate your willingness to appear before the committee today. And thank you for your years of dedicated services as a member of this body and your recent leadership as the department of justice. As i mentioned when director comey appeared before us last week, this committees role is to be the eyes and ears for the other 85 members of the United States senate and for the American People. Ensuring that the Intelligence Community is operating lawfully and has the necessary tools to keep america safe. The community is large and diverse. We recognize the gravity of our investigation into russias interference in the 2016 u. S. Elections. But i remind our constituents that while we investigate russia, we are scrutinizing cias budget while were investigating russia, we are still scr
Disciplined or removed from office only by the personal action of the Attorney General. But according to the white house, the president has been advised he, he can terminate Robert Mueller all by himself. Does he believe he has the power to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller . Certainly believes he has the power to do so. Most legal experts believe he would have to order Deputy Attorney general rosenstein to fire mueller and corefuse. I know a number of individuals in the Legal Community and including at the department of justice said he has the power to do so but i dont have any further announcements. They told me, ive asked. They said its rosenstein oversees is the Special Counsel and only he has the power to fire the Special Counsel. Again, weve been advised that the president certainly has the power to make that decision. I cant go anything beyond that. Weve been advised the president certainly has the power to make the decision. To be clear, the warrants that were executed agains
The ground has shifted dramatically. How many of a shift . I dont know. I do know this. People are very concerned about the ability of our government. It has now accelerated. Watergate took nine months. This thing seems to be taking hours. We just learned the Senate Judiciary committee is requesting all memos relating to comeys interactions from trump from the fbi. Democrats ramping up calls for an independent commission to they had russian invtition and it isot just democrats talking impeachment this time. Congressman justin amash told the him, if the details in the comey memo were true, it would merit impeachment but added, everybody gets a fair trial in this country. Earlier at the coast guard commencement, the president spoke about being treated unfairly by the media. Never, ever, ever give up. Things will work out just fine. Look at the way ive been treated lately. Especially by the media. No politician in history, and i say this with great, has been treated worse or more unfairly
Ignored, the Coalition Commander took the desession to hit the forces operating in a quote well established deconflict shun zone. The forces were setting up fighting positions were told in a protected zone used by the u. S. To train antiisis forces. At tanf is about 170 miles from the isis defacto capital raqa. After shows of force, they didnt stop the assad forces. Those forces refused to move out of the deconfliction zone. The commander called for the air strike as a matter of petition. There is no change in policy, the official said. But this is the first time other than the tomahawk missile strike after that chemical weapons attack that u. S. Warplanes and u. S. Ordinances have targeted pro assad forces. They accidentally hit them not too long ago. We expect a statement from the u. S. Military soon. The ap is reporting a tank and bull dozer were hit, jenna. Its not clear if the forces belong to the syrian army or their allies which could include iran, russia or hezbollah. Jenna tha