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Sessions says that, if there were, it would be up to the president to waive executive privilege when he thinks appropriate.
As to emoluments, Sessions says that the Justice Department decided on a defense that it believed is legitimate.
Sessions on Arpaio pardon: "This pardon, I think, was well within the power of the president to do."
Hatch also called it a "10,000-word hit piece."
Leahy is starting right off with Sessions' Russia contacts.
Sessions: "I believe my answer was correct."
Follow-up: DOJ notes the lawsuit "was against [POTUS] in his official capacity," hence DOJ defense.
Well, that was a weird series of exchanges.
First:
He had less certain answers, including an outright "don't recall" as to whether he discussed emails and "don't think so" as to Magnitsky.
Then, it got very weird when Leahy asked Sessions whether he had been interviewed or approached for interview by special counsel's office.
Sessions made a weird face, then said Leahy should ask Mueller. Leahy counters: I'm asking you.
Sessions says he's not sure if he should answer without first consulting with special counsel Mueller.
Leahy then asked a more narrow question of whether Sessions has been interviewed by Mueller. Sessions made another weird face, then said no.
Durbin asking about role of OLC in decision to terminate DACA.
Sessions: "We did. We consulted a large number of lawyers in the dep't."
Sessions: "We did. We consulted a large number of lawyers in the dep't."
Sessions won't answer about whether he had communications with Texas AG about threatened DACA suit, citing "work product."
Sessions talks about "cloud over" Chicago bc of murders after refusing to answer ?s about Trump & "lifting the cloud" over Russia invest. 🤔
BTW, I've asked DOJ to explain what Sessions meant with that answer.
DOJ spokesperson tells me: "The AG had no conversations w the Texas AG about the threatened daca lawsuit."
[Which doesn't answer the question of why he said what he said.]
Now, Whitehouse is pressing Sessions on Sessions' discussions of how he believes executive privilege works.
Grassley still referring to AG Sessions as "Senator Sessions."
FYI: Sessions non-answers there to Graham were presumably related to his recusal. He shouldn't be involved in those decisions.
As in: The non-answer about Lynch-Clinton tarmac meeting, only knowing what's in the papers, & not knowing about Steele dossier/FISA issue.
This got heated. Grassley gave extra time.
Franken now pushing back on Sessions' non-answers today to Leahy about not recalling whether he discussed Trump's views on policy issues.
Sessions says "this is totally unfair to me."
"I did not have a continuing exchange of information," Sessions says, ignoring Franken's question about Sessions' non-answers.
OK. I have to get to some other work. Follow @LoopEmma and @dominicholden for continued live coverage of the Sessions hearing.
