Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) on Tuesday accused Attorney General Jeff Sessions of “obstructing” the congressional investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election by declining to answer questions.
“You are obstructing that congressional investigation by not answering these questions,” Heinrich told Sessions during an open session of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
He said Sessions’ silence “speaks volumes.”
“I would say that I have consulted with senior career attorneys in the department and they believe this is consistent with my duties,” Sessions replied.
“I suspect you have,” Heinrich shot back.
Here’s more with a transcript:
"My understanding is that you took an oath, you raised your right hand today and said you would solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And now you're not answering questions," Heinrich said. "You're impeding this investigation."
He continued:
"So my understanding of the legal standard is either you answer the question, that's the best outcome. You say 'This is classified, can't answer it here, I'll answer it in closed session,' that's bucket number two. Bucket number three is to say I'm invoking executive privilege. There is not appropriateness bucket. That is not a legal standard. Can you tell me what are these long-standing DOJ rules that protect conversations made with the executive without invoking executive privilege?"
The attorney general said it was a "longstanding policy of the Department of Justice" not to reveal conversations between the attorney general and the president, saying he would need to share the questions with the president.
"Can you share those policies with us?" Heinrich asked. "Are they written down at the Department of Justice?"
"I believe they are," Sessions replied.
"This is the appropriateness legal standard for not answering congressional inquiries?" Heinrich asked.
Sessions replied, "It's my judgment that it would be inappropriate for me to reveal conversations with the president when he has not had a full opportunity to review the questions and to make a decision and approve such an answer."
Heinrich then noted that there were two ongoing investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
"You are obstructing that congressional investigation by not answering these questions," Heinrich said. "And I think your silence, like the silence of [Director of National Intelligence Dan Coates], like the silence of [NSA Director Mike Rogers], speaks volumes."
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