Islamic state atrocities. Emmanuel macron has launched his manifesto and Francois Fillon has had more bad news today, a property of his raided by police. Well have the latest on the french president ial election. If you bought shares in the company that owned snapchat you probably had a good day, the stockjumping by more than 40 just since the company floated. There were a few hours after Donald Trumps speech to congress where something resembling calm had descended on washington, dc. But it didnt last long. There is now huge pressure on mr trumps Attorney GeneralJeff Sessions and what relationship and connections he has had with the russians. Mr trump has been talking about this in the last few hours, he says he has total confidence inJeff Sessions, that he thinks theres no need for the Attorney General to recuse himself from an investigation into contact between the Trump Campaigner russian officials during the election. He told reporters he wasnt aware mr sessions had these two meetings with the Russian Ambassador in washington. That is the president s analysis. There are a significant number of people who do not agree with it, that includes senior republicans. For instance this is the us House Majority leader kevin mccarthy. This is the main senator susan collins. Both say mr sessions should recuse himself from this investigation. And this is why. In january mr sessions was being questioned under oath by senators as pa rt questioned under oath by senators as part of the Confirmation Hearing that led to him being approved Attorney General. This exchange took place. Ivanovic any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump Campaign communicated with the russian government in the course of this campaign, what will you do . |j am this campaign, what will you do . am not aware of any of those activities. I have been called a celibate a time or two in that Campaign Andl celibate a time or two in that campaign and i did not have communications with the russians. And im unable to comment. The problem was, he had had communication with the russians. This is the Washington Post which was the first to report he had met the Russian Ambassador to america doing a president ial campaign. After that story came out a spokesperson for that story came out a Spokesperson Foer that story came out a spokesperson for mr sessions confirmed that that was the case. ButJeff Sessions is adamant hes done nothing wrong. Have a look at this exchange on us television. Well, i have not met with any russians at any time to discuss any political campaign. And no remarks those remarks are unbelievable to me and false. I dont have anything else to say about that. What about reducing yourself from your agency. Ive said whenever is appropriate i will recuse myself, there is no doubt about that. Remember in all the best that it was communications with the Russian Ambassador that led to the firing of the National Security adviser Michael Flynn, surrounding how he reported those conversations with the ambassador to the vice president. Also remember in his capacity as Attorney General, Jeff Sessions ultimately overseas that investigation into allegations of russian interference in the us elections. Now, end of the democrats. Nancy pelosi is one of the most senior democrats, she says. Building on those points, here is the democratic leader in the senate. Did the president know about the meetings between then senator sessions and the Russian Ambassador . Were these the only two meetings between the now Attorney General and the Russian Ambassador . Or other russian officials . Did the Attorney General disclose these meetings during the fbi Background Check for his nomination . There has been a revelation after revelation. Mistruths after mistruths. Stories shifting like quicksand. If they is truly no there there, why werent they Tell The Truth . As ever in washington there are two narratives. This is the speaker of the house paul ryan, a senior republican, this is his take. First i will refer to the Senate Judiciary committee. I checked the transcript on all of that, so i cant speak to what the Judiciary Committee transcriptase, frankly i havent read it. Should he recuse himself, ithink frankly i havent read it. Should he recuse himself, i think he answered that question this morning. Which is if he himself is subject of an investigation, of course he could, but if hes not i dont see any purpose or reason of doing this. Lets bring in Anthony Zurcher as we a lwa ys lets bring in Anthony Zurcher as we always do. From washington, dc. So many elements to this story, what is your reading of it . As you said, pressure is mounting onJeff Sessions to recuse himself. The ground underneath him as far as staying involved in this investigation in his capacity as Attorney General overseeing the fbi is crumbling, with leaders of the Republican Party in congress, kevin mccarthy, the Second In Command in the house of representatives, arming out and saying he needed to recuse himself. It has allowed democrats to go step further and start calling for his resignation. We got a couple of stories out of sessions own Press Secretary about that meeting in september. First it was an in person meeting, then over the phone, then in person. If it was over the phone with the Russian Ambassador, Michael FlynnsPhone Conversations with the Russian Ambassador were recorded by Us Intelligence agencies so i wouldnt be surprised if a Phone Conversation with Jeff Sessions wouldnt be surprised if a Phone Conversation withJeff Sessions also had a transcript that also leaked. Itll be interesting to see where the story goes from here. A tweet from Michael Floyd says one was put up from Michael Floyd says one was put up ahead of the us National SecurityMichael Flynn the other is head of the Department Responsible for masticating domestic espionage. The point is that these stories an incredibly damaging so early in mrtrumps stories an incredibly damaging so early in mr trumps presidency. Absolutely, Michael Flynn, like sessions, is a close adviser to donald trump during the campaign. Jeff sessions was one of the first prominent politicians to endorse donald trump early in the campaign before he became a front runner when he was more of a sideshow in the republican primary process, he helped devise Donald Trumps immigration strategy, much of his foreign policy. It was clear he would have a key role in the administration and Attorney General is the top Law Enforcement official in the us government. There are ties between these two and the fact they had between these two and the fact they ha d co nta cts between these two and the fact they had contacts with russia Oil Officials during the campaign and after the election lends a view that there may be more here, that they went direct about it, didnt ask hansa questions directly when they could have, it raises suspicions and casts doubt that there could be a bigger story behind us. Were told Jeff Sessions is imminent at the Department Ofjustice. While we wait for the Press Conference to begin, lets remind you while these elements weve already discussed have played out, a cross Party Congressional committee whose website you can find online, ill post this because Jeff Sessions website you can find online, ill post this becauseJeff Sessions is stepping out. Lets bring the live feed. Thank you for being with me. My chief of staff. Jodie has been almost 20 years in the department of justice. Let me share a few thoughts. First, about the comments that i made to the committee that have been said to be incorrect and false. Let me be clear, i never had meetings with russian operatives or russian intermediaries about the Trump Campaign. And the idea that i was part of a continuing Exchange Of Information during the campaign between tromso gets and intermediaries for the russian government is totally false. That is the question senator frank and asked me at the hearing and thats what got my attention, as he noted, it was the first. Breaking news. It got my attention. And that is the question i responded to. I did not respond by referring to the two meetings, one very brief after a speech, and one with two of my senior staffers, professional staffers, with the Russian Ambassador in washington. Where no such things were discussed. In my reply to the question of senator frank and, it was honest and correct asi frank and, it was honest and correct as i understood it at the time. I appreciate that some have taken the view that this was a false comment, thatis view that this was a false comment, that is not my intent, that is not correct. I will write theJudiciary Committee soon, today or tomorrow, to explain this testimony for the record. Secondly, at my Confirmation Hearing, i promised that i would do this. Is a specific matter arose where i believed my impartiality might reasonably be questioned, i would consult with the Department Ethics officials regarding the most appropriate way to proceed. Thats what i told them at the Confirmation Hearing. Ive been herejust three weeks today. A lot has been happening in this three week period. I wish id had more of my staff on board, but were still waiting for now. Much has been done, much needs to be done, but idea down and have done as i promised. I have met with senior officials, shortly after arriving here, we evaluated the rules of ethics and recusal. Ive considered the issues at stake. In fa ct, considered the issues at stake. In fact, on monday, of this week, we set a meeting for a final decision on this question and on monday we set that meeting today. So this was the day that we planned to have a final discussion. I asked for their candid and honest opinion about what i should do about investigation, certain investigations. My staff recommended recusal, they said that since i had involvement with the campaigni since i had involvement with the campaign i should not be involved in any campaign investigation. I have studied the rules and considered their comments, and evaluation. I believe those recommendations are right and just. Therefore, i have recuse myself in the matters that deal with the Trump Campaign. The exact language of that recusal is in the Press Release that we will give to you. I have said this i have now decided to recuse myself from any existing or future investigations of any matter relating in any way to the campaign for president of the united states. Rose group i went on to say, this announcement should not be interpreted as confirmation of the existence of any investigation or suggestive of the scope of any such investigation. Because we in the Department Ofjustice resist confirming or denying the very existence of the investigation. So, in the end, i have followed the right procedure, just as i promised the committee i would. Just as i believe any good Attorney General should do. And a proper decision, i believe, has been reached. So i thank you for the opportunity to make those comments, and would be pleased to take a few questions. Ok. To clear up pleased to take a few questions. Ok. To clearup any pleased to take a few questions. Ok. To clear up any confusion over this, could you just explain a little bit about the september eight meeting, who in your staff was there, and what was discussed with the Russian Ambassador . The Russian Ambassador a p pa re ntly ambassador . The Russian Ambassador apparently sent a staffer to my office, i did not see him, and asked for a meeting, as so many of the ambassadors were doing. We set up a time, as we did, as we normally did. And we met with him. Two of my senior staffers were there. Maybe a younger staffer, too. And they both we re younger staffer, too. And they both were retired ani kernels, not politicians, and we listened to the ambassador, and what his concerns might be. Well, it wasjust ambassador, and what his concerns might be. Well, it was just normal things, such as i started off by saying, i dont remember a lot of it, but i do remember saying i had gone to russia with a church group in1991. Gone to russia with a church group ini99i. He said gone to russia with a church group in 1991. He said he was not a believer himself, but he was glad to have Church People come there. Indeed, i thought he was pretty much ofan indeed, i thought he was pretty much of an old style of soviet type ambassador. So we talked a little bit about terrorism. Somehow the subject of ukraine came up, id had the Ukrainian Ambassador in my office the day before. To listen to him. Nothing. Russia had done nothing that was wrong in any area, and Everybody Else was wrong with regard to the ukraine. It got to be a little bit of a testy conversation at that point, it wrapped up, he said something about inviting me to have lunch. I did not accept that. That never occurred. Inaudible i dont recall but most of these ambassadors are pretty gossipy. And they like. This was in campaign season. But i dont recall any specific political discussions. Do you recall meeting with ambassador any othertime . You recall meeting with ambassador any other time . It is possible. Im on the Armed Services committee and things happen but i dont recall having met him before. Did he consider you a representative of the Trump Campaign . They think ambassadors are always out trying to find out things and advance their agenda. Most of the ambassadors out there would lay out the case for ukraine, lay out his case, poland laid out his case, latvia, lithuania, hungary, japan, canada, australia, i met with all of those ambassadors over the year. So i think thats why. Ambassadors over the year. So i think thats why. Did you consult with the white house about your decision was too much and to follow on the last question, with hindsight do you believe it is a coincidence the russians ask you for a meeting or do you believe you were targeted because it came at the height of russias interference . And trump was giving an interview to say he didnt think there was anything to the report. I dont recall and have a sense of any connection whatsoever about that. Im not sure i even knew, when we set up the meeting, what was going to be going on in the world at the time. I cant speak for what the Russian Ambassador had in his mind. Have you met with any russian officials or folk associated with the russian government since you endorsed President Trump . dont think so. We meet a lot of people, so. From those two meetings you discussed with the ambassador. I dont believe so. The White House Press secretary and President Bush said today they think you should not recuse yourself from these investigations. Inaudible idea to share with white House Counsel and my staff that i intend to recuse myself this afternoon. But i feel like because they dont know the rules, the ethics r