Attorney General Jeff Sessions talked twice with Russia's ambassador to the United States during the presidential campaign season, communications that spurred calls in Congress for him to recuse himself from a Justice Department investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. election.
Sessions, an early supporter of President Donald Trump and a policy adviser to the Republican candidate, did not disclose those discussions at his confirmation hearing in January when asked what he would do if "anyone affiliated" with the campaign had been in contact with officials of the Russian government.
Sessions replied that he had not had communication with the Russians.
Justice Department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said this on Wednesday on Twitter:
Statement from Attorney General Sessions: pic.twitter.com/kZic12DW0R
— Sarah Isgur Flores (@whignewtons) March 2, 2017
But others are not so sure.
Lawmakers are calling for the resignation of Sessions after reports that he said under oath that he did not have contact with Russia.
It is been topping the trending sections on social media.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi accused Sessions of "lying under oath" and demanded that he resign, saying he is "not fit to serve as the top law enforcement officer of our country."
Democratic Congressman Elijah Cumming also posted a statement calling for Sessions to resign.
#BREAKING: @RepCummings Calls for Attorney General's #Sessions Resignation After Revelation about Communications with #Russians pic.twitter.com/V7Jeil5wth
— House OversightDems (@OversightDems) March 2, 2017
Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus and Congresswoman Elizabeth Warren also voiced her thoughts about the matter.
And we need Attorney General Jeff Sessions – who should have never been confirmed in the first place – to resign. We need it now.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 2, 2017
At the confirmation hearing in January, Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota asked Sessions about allegations of contact between Russia and Trump aides during the 2016 election. He asked Sessions what he would do if there were evidence that anyone from the Trump campaign had been in touch with the Russian government during the campaign.
Sessions replied he was "unaware of those activities."
Then he added: "I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I didn't have, did not have communications with the Russians, and I'm unable to comment on it."
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy also voiced similar opinions as his fellow Democrats.
It's not illegal for a Senator to speak w the Russian Ambassador. So why lie about it under oath? Makes no sense, unless...
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) March 2, 2017
It is gaining traction with some local representatives as well. Orlando's Democratic Representative Val Demings posted this:
Further evidence for the need of a bi-partisan, independent investigation of President Trumps's ties to Russia. https://t.co/S6Gu0IVNke
— Rep. Val Demings (@RepValDemings) March 2, 2017
Some Republican lawmakers are commenting as well. Senator Lindsey Grahm and Senator John McCain both went on a CNN Town Hall Wednesday night, with Grahm saying some strong words about the matter:.
"Don't worry about John and Lindsey Graham looking into Russia, because Russia is not our friend," he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.