Press Releases

Yesterday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions indicated that the Department of Justice will pursue criminal charges to curb the number of alleged leaks of classified information from within the government.  The statement raises questions about the scope of the Attorney General’s recusal from matters related to the presidential campaigns, and whether that recusal continues to apply to investigation of the many contacts between the Trump campaign and Putin’s Russia. 

Earlier this week, the House Committee on the Judiciary considered H. Res. 184, a resolution of inquiry introduced by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), that would have directed the Department of Justice to turn over information related to the Attorney General’s misleading testimony and the pattern of connections between President Trump’s advisers and the Russian government.  That resolution was defeated on a party line vote.

Today, Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), joined by Reps. Jeffries and Lieu, wrote to the Attorney General to ask for clarification on his comments.  The members also released the following statement:

“Given the Attorney General’s troubling record on his own contacts with the Russian government, and given the Trump Administration’s apparent attempt to obstruct the work of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence by coopting its Chairman, it seems entirely inappropriate for him to comment on any aspect of these alleged leaks of classified information.  It is critical that Attorney General Sessions clarify the precise scope of his recusal.  We look forward to his prompt response to our letter.”

The text of the letter is here and below.

March 31, 2017

The Honorable Jefferson Sessions

Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

Dear Attorney General Sessions:

            Yesterday evening, you indicated in a television interview that the Trump Administration will pursue criminal charges to curb the number of alleged leaks of classified information from within the government.^[1]  Your comments appear to contradict your earlier statements about the scope of your recusal from any investigation of the Trump campaign, and we write to you for clarification.

            Hours after the Washington Post reported about two of your previously undisclosed meetings with the Russian ambassador to the United States,^[2] you announced your recusal “from any existing or future investigations of any matters in any way related to the campaigns for President of the United States.”^[3]  You noted further that you have “taken no actions regarding any such matters,” and your recusal “should not be interpreted as confirmation of the existence of any investigation or suggestive of the scope of any such investigation.”^[4]

            Many of our colleagues expressed initial concerns about the scope of your recusal—and, in particular, how a recusal limited to “the campaigns for President of the United States” would impact matters involving “Russian contacts with the Trump transition team and administration.”^[5]  In your supplementary testimony to the Senate Judiciary, you assured us that you “understand the scope of the recusal . . . would include any such matters.”^[6]

            And yet last night, when asked about “the leakers, in the various agencies,” you stated: “This has got to end, and it will probably take some convictions to put an end to it.”^[7]

            Of course, most of the alleged leaks in question are related to ongoing investigations about contact between President Trump’s advisors and Putin’s Russia.^[8]  In many cases, these reports are the only way the public came to learn about these contacts.  Accordingly:

• Does your recusal “from any existing or future investigations of any matters in any way related to the campaigns for President of the United States” remain in effect?

• Does that recusal still extend to matters involving “Russian contacts with the Trump transition team and administration?”
• If you are, in fact, recused from matters involving “Russian contacts with the Trump transition team and administration,” is it appropriate for you to be involved in any investigation or decision to prosecute anyone who may have leaked classified information about the Administration’s connections to the Russian government? 
• Is it your intention to participate in such matters? 

• Is it appropriate for you to comment on such matters in public?

We ask that you answer these questions, and provide us with any other relevant guidance that may clarify the scope of your recusal, no later than April 7, 2017.