The Justice Department's account of what led to Jeff Sessions' recusal from the Trump-Russia probe differs from James Comey's
The department said in a statement that Sessions met with DOJ ethics officials "shortly after being sworn in" to discuss whether he should recuse himself from "existing or future investigations"related to the Trump campaign.
The Justice Department asserted that its discussions with Sessions were prompted byfederal rules stipulating that a DOJ attorney "should not participate in investigations" that pertain to individuals "with whom the attorney has a political or personal relationship."
Sessions traveled extensively with the Trump campaign in 2016 and appeared at several events on behalf of the then-candidate.
In his testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committe on Thursday, Comey said of Sessions, "We also were aware of facts that I can't discuss in an open setting, that would make his continued engagement in a Russia-related investigation problematic." Comey said, without elaborating.
Sessions announced his recusal on March 2,after multiple news outlets reported he failed to disclose during his Senate confirmation hearings that he met with Russian ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. The matter drew sharp criticism amid growing federal and congressional investigations into Russia's meddling in the US election.