'An appalling and detestable lie': Watch AG Sessions come out swinging in a fiery opening statement

Attorney General Jeff Sessions opened his blockbuster hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday with a fiery statement denying any wrongdoing with matters related to Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Sessions additionally denied any meeting with Russian officials at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington. It was reported previously that Sessions met in secret with Russia's ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak, at that hotel when President Donald Trump gave a foreign policy speech during last year's campaign. Following is a transcript of the video.

ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS: The suggestion that I participated in any collusion, that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government to hurt this country, which I have served with honor for 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process is an appalling and detestable lie.

I did not have any private meetings, nor do I recall any conversations with any Russian officials at The Mayflower Hotel. I did not attend any meetings at that event separate, prior to the speech I attended by the president today. I attended a reception with my staff that included at least two dozen people and President Trump.

I have never met with or had any conversation with any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election in the United States. Further, I have no knowledge of any such conversations by anyone connected to the Trump campaign. 

Following a routine morning threat briefing, Mr. Comey spoke to me and my chief of staff. While he did not provide me with any of the substance of his conversation with the president, apparently the day before, Mr. Comey expressed concern about proper communications protocol with the White House and with the president. I responded, he didn't recall this, but I responded to his comment by agreeing that the FBI and the Department of
Justice needed to be careful to follow department policies regarding appropriate contacts with the White House.

I recused myself from any investigation into the campaign for president, but I did not recuse myself from defending my honor against scurrilous and false allegations.

These false attacks, the innuendoes, the leaks — you can be sure will not intimidate me.