President Donald Trump was hoping to change the subject away from his firing of former FBI chief James Comey with his “apprentice” week. It involves an effort to roll out an increase in apprenticeship programs for blue-collar workers, which the White House says is a key part of Trump’s agenda. Plus, think of all the easy headlines that could mix Trump and his once-hit reality television show. But it seems a member of Trump’s administration will be stealing his thunder. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, a surprise appearance that he announced over the weekend.
Sessions had been set to appear before the Senate and House appropriations subcommittees on Tuesday but he wrote in a letter that he would be sending his deputy. Instead, he will be going to the Senate Intelligence Committee to talk about last week’s testimony by former FBI chief James Comey.
“In light of reports regarding Mr. Comey’s recent testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, it is important that I have an opportunity to address these matters in the appropriate forum,” Sessions wrote in a letter that was delivered Saturday. “The Senate Intelligence Committee is the most appropriate forum for such matters, as it has been conducting an investigation and has access to relevant, classified information.”
It remains unclear whether the Tuesday hearing will be open to the public. A Justice Department official told the Washington Post the hearing is likely to be closed to the public. But others are already pushing for the hearing to be open. Sen. James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma, told CBS’ Face the Nation that the hearing is likely to be open but emphasized that nothing has been decided. The ACLU also came out quickly to speak up in favor of an open hearing. “There is absolutely no reason why the hearing room doors should be shut, cameras turned off, and all American citizens left in the dark when Sessions testifies,” said Christopher Anders, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office. “Democracy shouldn’t take place behind closed doors.”
During his testimony, Sessions is likely to have to answer specific questions about his involvement in the firing of Comey even though he had recused himself when it came to the Russia probe. “There’s a real question of the propriety of the attorney general participating in that in any way, shape or form,” Sen. Jack Reed, a Democrat, said on Fox News Sunday.
Several lawmakers are likely to also want to probe what Comey meant when he cryptically said during his hearing that he knew details about Sessions before his recusal that would have made his involvement in the Russia probe “problematic.” Comey said he couldn’t get into details in the open hearing but the vague statement suggests the FBI may have known for weeks that Sessions was going to have to step down from the Russia probe.
Members of the Appropriations Committee were none too happy with Sessions’ decision. Sen. Pat Leahy, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, for example, accused Sessions of trying to avoid questions about his interactions with Russian officials. “Atty Gen. Sessions provided false testimony in response to questions from me,” Leahy wrote on Twitter. “Now, twice in 2 mos., AG Sessions cancels an Approps hg in which I could Q him about his false testimony and half-hearted Russia recusal.” Leahy went on to warn: “You can’t run forever.”
Leahy isn’t the only one upset about Sessions’ choice of where to testify. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said it is the Senate Judiciary Committee that should question Sessions. That committee is more appropriate to discuss “the technical, legal aspects of obstruction of justice,” according to Feinstein.
