The chair is authorized to declare recesses of the committee at any time. To theome everyone hearings and oversight in the department of justice. I begin by recognizing myself. Today we welcome attorney jeff sessions, the annual Department Oversight hearing. General, you have a long and distinguished career in public service. Even when your decisions are not always well received. Leaving theear department of justice has not been without difficulty, which is expected at the outset of a new administration. While much has been done to theect the proper under Obama Administration, more work must be done to ensure the department is operating to impartially administered justice. Our last doj oversight hearing was beyond disappointing. Loretta lynchal gave the least. And at least transparent testimony i can recall in my time in congress. It was lame a disservice to the American People. Ms. Lynch failed to respond substantively to every question posed by this committee. Former miss lynch and f
That one, the campaign had communications with the russians through mr. Pop dob luss. So lets papadopoulos. So lets try to correct the record. Yes or no, did you chair the march 31, 2016, meeting of the National Security Advisory Committee . Mr. Sessions yes. Mr. Nadler did mr. Papadopoulos made some r. Sessions i remember mr. Nadler yes or no. I dont have time. You shut george down when he proposed that meeting with putin, is this correct, yes or no . Mr. Sessions yes. I pushed back. I will say it that way. Mr. Nadler your answer is yes. So you were obviously concerned with mr. Papadopoulos connections and his possibly arranging a meeting with putin. Yes or no, did anyone else at that meeting, including thencandidate trump react in any way with what mr. Papadopoulos presented . Mr. Sessions i dont recall. Mr. Nadler your testimony is that they didnt express any meeting with the russian president or concerns of communications between the campaign and the russians . Mr. Sessions i dont
Leading the department of justice, an agency that by its very nature is prone to controversy because of the publics varied opinions on what it seeks to what it means to seek and obtain justice. However, you clearly understand that the department you lead must have the confidence of the American People even when your decisions are not always well received. Your first year leading the department of justice has not been without difficulty which is expected at the outset of a new administration. While much has been done to correct the improper Political Engagement by the department of justice under the obama administration, more work must be done to insure the department is operating to impartially administer justice. Our last doj oversight hearing was beyond disappointing. Attorney general Loretta Lynch gave the least full many and least fulsome and least transparent testimony that i can recall in my time in congress. It was plainly a disservice to the American People. Ms. Lynch failed to
With that mr. Chairman im honored to take your questions. We now know that once the campaign had dedications with the russians to mr. Papadopoulos and others you seem to wear of the fact of the time. Lets correct the earlier testimony for the record. Yes or no did you attend a meeting of the National Security Advisory Committee . I did share that meeting. Yes or no did mr. Papadopoulos mentioned the russian government during that meeting . He made several comments to that effect as i remember after having read the newspaper. Zach answer yes or no. Out of time. Their reports you shut george down when he proposed that meeting with putin. Is this correct . Yes or no . Yes. I pushed back. Yes. You are obviously concerned mr. Papadopoulos connections and possibly arranging a meeting with putin. Again yes or no did anyone else in that meeting including canada trump or act in any way to what mr. Papadopoulos had presented . I dont recall. You make your testimony is neither donald trump or any
Come to order. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare recess at any time. We welcome everyone to this mornings hearing on oversight of the department of justice. We begin by recognizing myself for an opening statement. Good morning. Today, we welcome jeff sessions, to the annual department of justice oversight hearing. Mr. Attorney general, you have a long and distinguished career of service. You continued that service by leading the department of justice, an agency that by its very nature is prone to controversy because of the varied opinions on what it means to seek and obtain justice. However, you clearly understand the department you need must have confidence of the American People even when your decisions are not always well deceived. Received. Your first year leading the department of justice has not been without difficulty, which is expected at the outset of a new administration. While much has been done to correct the Improper Administration of justice under the