U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is testing the patience, and credulity, of Americans when he says — under oath — he has no memory of a meeting with campaign staffer George Papadopoulos until its news made headlines. And then, he now recalls, he had the presence of mind to warn the young aide that he was not commissioned to do the campaign’s bidding in negotiating with Russia.
So first it was “I never met the guy.” Then, “Oh wait, maybe I did but the details are fuzzy.” To, “it’s all coming clear.”
And now, “Ah yes, he’s the young man I strongly rebuked.”
Same song, second verse for Sessions’ recollections of Carter Page, another campaign aide whose dealings with Russia are landing him in hot water with the House Intelligence Panel investigating possible interference of Russia in the 2016 general election.
In January, Sessions testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that he’d had no contact with the Russians during Mr. Trump’s campaign. This summer, he “clarified” that testimony by saying he indeed had met twice with Russia’s ambassador to the United States but could not recall any details of the conversation.
Russia, however, filled in the blanks when it told the Washington Post its ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, and Sessions discussed campaign-related matters, including U.S. policy affecting Moscow, should Mr. Trump be elected.
When that came to light, Sessions recused himself from handling the Russia probe.
Sessions’ excuse for what appears to be convenient amnesia is that the campaign was absolute chaos.
That, we can believe.
— Susan Lynn
