Trump doesn’t deny report that Jeff Sessions had ‘substantive’ talks with Russian diplomat

“A new INTELLIGENCE LEAK from the Amazon Washington Post, this time against A.G. Jeff Sessions.These illegal leaks, like Comey’s must stop!” Trump wrote on Twitter early Saturday.

Trump later tweeted, “So many people are asking why isn’t the A.G. or Special Council looking at the many Hillary Clinton or Comey crimes. 33,000 e-mail deleted? … What about all of the Clinton ties to Russia, including Podesta Company, Uranium deal, Russian Reset, big dollar speeches etc.”

U.S. spy agencies intercepted the communications between Sessions, the Trump campaign’s foreign policy adviser, and Russia’s top diplomat to the United States, according to the Washington Post.

Kislyak told top Moscow officials about two of the conversations he had with Sessions during the campaign. One of those discussions focused on policies that were important to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s administration.

“Obviously I cannot comment on the reliability of what anonymous sources describe in a wholly uncorroborated intelligence intercept that the Washington Post has not seen and that has not been provided to me,” Sarah Isgur Flores, director of public affairs at the Justice Department, told the Washington Examiner. “But the attorney general stands by his testimony from just last month before the Senate Intelligence Committee when he specifically addressed this and said that he ‘never met with or had any conversations with any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election.'”

During his Senate Judiciary confirmation hearing earlier this year, Sessions said, “I did not have communications with the Russians.” When news of a meeting with Kislyak emerged, Sessions subsequently said the meeting was in his capacity as a senator and not a representative of the Trump campaign.

The new allegations against the top U.S. law enforcement official could further complicate the Trump administration’s insistence that campaign associates did not collude with Russia to win the November election.

Sessions recused himself from a federal investigation into Trump’s campaign and Russia in March after admitting he had met with Kislyak at an evening during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, and again at his Senate office on Capitol Hill.

On Wednesday, Trump told the New York Times he would not have appointed Sessions if he had known he would recuse himself.

Trump’s disclosure to the Times was followed up Saturday with a rebuke of the Manhattan paper.

“The Failing New York Times foiled U.S. attempt to kill the single most wanted terrorist, Al-Baghdadi. Their sick agenda over National Security,” Trump wrote.

Trump has previously called for the prosecution of reporters and media outlets who publish stories that include leaked government and intelligence information.

Trump also defended himself from reports that he was looking into pardoning himself or others from possible charges.

“While all agree the U.S. President has the complete power to pardon, why think of that when only crime so far is LEAKS against us.FAKE NEWS,” Trump added.

This week, Trump was reported to have asked his advisers about his ability to pardon aides, family members and himself if others are found guilty for actions related to colluding with Russia in last year’s election.

Newly announced White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Friday that Trump has the authority to pardon family and friends if anyone is found to have colluded with Russia in last November’s election, but said there no plans to take this step at this point.

“The president maintains pardon powers like any president would, but there are no announcements or planned announcements on that front whatsoever,” Sanders told reporters.