Elizabeth Warren and other prominent politicians and media members have taken to Twitter to express outrage over news that Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. twice during the presidential campaign season.
The Washington Post was the first to report that one of the meetings was a private conversation between Sessions and Sergey Kislyak, which took place in the senator’s office last September. Warren was quick to express her thoughts via social media.
The Massachusetts Senator called for Session to resign and warned, “This is not fake news.”
It's a simple q: "Have you been in contact with anyone connected to any part of the Russian government about the 2016 election?"
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 2, 2017
This is not normal. This is not fake news. This is a very real & serious threat to the national security of the United States.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 2, 2017
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
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi seemed to agree with Warren on Twitter.
We are far past recusal. Jeff #Sessions lied under oath. Anything less than resignation or removal from office is unacceptable.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) March 2, 2017
The discussions between Sessions and a Russian official could also fuel new congressional calls for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Russia’s alleged role in the 2016 presidential election and the suspected hacking campaign, according to the Post.
House Oversight Committee chairman Jason Chaffetz tweeted, “AG Sessions should clarify his testimony and recuse himself,” while U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings urged Session to step down.
Elijah Cummings calls on Jeff Sessions to resign immediately pic.twitter.com/pkUCniKbUg
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) March 2, 2017
“I never met with any Russian officials to discuss issues of the campaign. I have no idea what this allegation is about. It is false,” Sessions said in a statement Wednesday night.
Check out some of the Twitter backlash:
AG Sessions should clarify his testimony and recuse himself
— Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) March 2, 2017
Attorney General Jeff #Sessions has proved he's ill-fit to serve and should immediately resign. My full statement ↓ pic.twitter.com/mne4DdpGy1
— Joe Crowley (@JoeCrowleyNY) March 2, 2017
Republicans asking to recuse #Sessions:
•Marco Rubio
•Jason Chaffetz -Chairman of oversight-
•Kevin McCarthy -House leader-
•Lindsay Graham— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) March 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/nautilus1304/status/837295093908373509
Jeff #Sessions did not reveal meeting with Russian diplomat under oath. Can you even imagine Republican furor if a Democrat had done this?
— ?♻️?? Christopher Zullo (@ChrisJZullo) March 2, 2017
There is no lying under oath… ever #Sessions pic.twitter.com/jbINat7ay7
— Bleudrift (@Bleudrift) March 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/AdamGladu/status/837301378271883264
https://twitter.com/Powerpolitics16/status/837295118201704449
It's ironic how all these "law and order" people seem to think lying under oath is no biggie. Staying over your visa? Deport! #Sessions
— Dave Pope (@davidlpope) March 2, 2017
If ONE of these stories were about @HillaryClinton or her admin'n @GOP would be going ballistic. We deserve answers #Sessions #SessionsLied
— ashleybananna (@ashleybananna) March 2, 2017