Press Releases

 Late last night, The Washington Post reported that on two occasions, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions met with Russia officials while he was connected to the Trump campaign—and during his confirmation hearings, he did not disclose these conversations despite direct questions about Russia.
 
Statement from Congresswoman Chellie Pingree Calling for Jeff Sessions Resignation, Reiterates Call for Independent Investigation into Russian Hack of 2016 Election

“In light of reports that Jeff Sessions lied under oath about his communications with the Russian government during the campaign, I am calling on him to resign as Attorney General. His clear disregard for the truth demonstrates that he is unfit to lead the nation’s judiciary. As the nation’s top attorney, Jeff Sessions should be held to the highest standards and know that lying under oath constitutes perjury.
 
"Since Michael Flynn’s resignation, my office has heard from thousands of Mainers who feel anxious, angry, and afraid of the Trump Administration’s lack of transparency and hostility toward answering questions about his connections to Russia. Enough is enough. When the U.S. Attorney General perjures himself before he’s even served a day, it’s time for an outsider to investigate.
 
"I urge my Republican colleagues to join me and the 195 Democratic members of the House in calling for an independent, bipartisan investigation into Russian interference with our election."
 

During his confirmation hearing, Senator Al Franken asked Sessions "what he would do if he learned of any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of the 2016 campaign. 'I’m not aware of any of those activities,' he responded. He added: 'I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I did not have communications with the Russians.'” 
 
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Elijah Cummings, the ranking member on the House oversight committee, have both called for Jeff Sessions to resign.
 
Over the weekend, The Washington Post also reported that the House and Senate chairmen charged with investigating Russian hacks called CNN and the New York Times to challenge journalists about their reporting. According to Axios, White House spokesman, Sean Spicer helped facilitate those conversations.