Top Democrat Chuck Schumer Calls On Jeff Sessions To Step Down

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Thursday called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to step down amid reports that the former senator failed to disclose meetings hed had with Russias U.S. ambassador during the election.

It would be better for the country if hed resign, Schumer said during a press conference on Capitol Hill. He also argued that the attorney general should recuse himself from ongoing congressional probes of Russias meddling in the election should he refuse to step down.

The Senate Democratic leader said he believed there was nothing inappropriate about a senator meeting with the Russian ambassador, but that it was very inappropriate to mislead Congress.

He also called on the Department of Justice to immediately appoint a special prosecutor to lead an investigation into Russias role in the U.S. presidential election.

Sen. Schumer: \"The Justice Dept. must immediately appoint a special prosecutor\" to lead investigation into Russian influence in election. pic.twitter.com/G2Jf8dfE7K

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Sen. Schumer: "The Justice Dept. must immediately appoint a special prosecutor" to lead investigation into Russian influence in election. pic.twitter.com/G2Jf8dfE7K
ABC News (@ABC) March 2, 2017

Sessions spoke with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak twice last year, The Washington Post reported Wednesday. One of the meetings occurred in the former senators office. Sessions didnt tell lawmakers about the meetings when asked during his January confirmation hearing whether any of Donald Trumps campaign officials had had contact with Russian officials.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told reporters on Thursday that Sessions should either recuse himself or resign.

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Feinstein added that for Sessions to under oath disavow any connection, any meeting, any discussion, is highly problematic.

A growing number of Republicans are joining Democrats in calling on Sessions to step away from federal investigations into whether Russia interfered in the election, including House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) and Rep. Ral Labrador (R-Idaho).

Senate Republicans , however, have resisted calls for Sessions to step aside. Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) told reporters it was too premature to say so.