U.S. Attorney-General Jeff Sessions has bowed to intense political pressure and recused himself from any investigation related to President Donald Trump\u2019s 2016 presidential campaign.<\/p>\n
Sessions made the decision after it emerged that he had failed at his Senate confirmation hearing to disclose two pre-election meetings with Russia\u2019s ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak.<\/p>\n
The Attorney-General\u2019s recusal came at a time when Russia was accused of interfering in the presidential race against Trump\u2019s arch-rival at the Nov. 8, 2016 presidential election, Democratic Hillary Clinton.<\/p>\n
Sessions, in a statement he issued and read at a live news conference, recalled his advice during the course of the confirmation proceedings on his nomination to be Attorney General.<\/p>\n
\u201cI advised the Senate Judiciary Committee that \u2018if a specific matter arose where I believed my impartiality might reasonably be questioned, I would consult with Department ethics officials regarding the most appropriate way to proceed\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the course of the last several weeks, I have met with the relevant senior career Department officials to discuss whether I should recuse myself from any matters arising from the campaigns for President of the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving concluded those meetings today, I have decided to recuse myself from any existing or future investigations of any matters related in any way to the campaigns for President of the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have taken no actions regarding any such matters, to the extent they exist.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis announcement should not be interpreted as confirmation of the existence of any investigation or suggestive of the scope of any such investigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cConsistent with the succession order for the Department of Justice, Acting Deputy Attorney General and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Dana Boente shall act.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs and perform the functions of the Attorney General with respect to any matters from which I have recused myself to the extent they exist,\u201d Sessions said. <\/p>\n
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