Jeff Sessions: US Attorney-General steps aside from Russia investigation

US Attorney-General Jeff Sessions has removed himself from an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, following revelations he twice met with the Russian ambassador and did not say so when pressed by Congress.

Key points:

• Deputy Attorney-General Dana Boente will handle matters related to the campaign
• President Trump maintains he has “total” confidence in Sessions
• Democrats push for Sessions to resign as Attorney-General

The move comes after a growing number of Republicans joined Democratic leaders in calling for Mr Sessions to step aside.

“I have recused myself in the matters that deal with the Trump campaign,” Mr Sessions told reporters at a hastily arranged news conference.

Mr Sessions rejected any suggestion that he tried to mislead anyone about his contacts with Russia, saying: “That is not my intent. That is not correct”.

The Attorney-General said he made the decision to remove himself from the investigation after his staff recommended that he step aside from any probe related to the Trump campaign, since he had been involved in that campaign.

Source: Jeff Sessions: US Attorney-General steps aside from Russia investigation – Donald Trump’s America – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)