Attorney General Jeff Sessions responded swiftly to reports that he met twice last year with the Russian ambassador. Sessions strongly stated that he never discussed campaign-related issues with anyone from Russia.
"I never met with any Russian officials to discuss issues of the campaign," he said in a statement. "I have no idea what this allegation is about. It is false."
Sessions met twice last year with the top Russian diplomat in Washington whose interactions with former Trump national security adviser Mike Flynn led to Flynn's firing, according to the Justice Department.
Sessions did not mention either meeting during his confirmation hearings when he said he knew of no contacts between Trump surrogates and Russians. A Justice official said Sessions didn't mislead senators during his confirmation.
Meanwhile, key Democratic lawmakers immediately called for Sessions' resignation after the news broke.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi characterized Sessions' comments in his confirmation as "apparent perjury," and said the attorney general should resign.
In his confirmation hearing to become attorney general, Sessions was asked about Russia and he responded at the time that he "did not have communications with the Russians."
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