# Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions vs. the Senate Intelligence Committee **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 11, 2017, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667 "2017-06-11T04:10:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/81 "2017-06-13T20:46:43Z")
His memory seems fine to me. If you’re a politician and government official, meeting thousands of people and having thousands of conversations, and you’re asked months later did you meet so-and-so on this or that date and what exactly did you say to so-and-so on such-and-such date, the vast majority of people do not have memories which would allow them to recall that. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/82 "2017-06-13T20:47:53Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > His memory seems fine to me. If you’re a politician and government official, meeting thousands of people and having thousands of conversations, and you’re asked months later did you meet so-and-so on this or that date and what exactly did you say to so-and-so on such-and-such date, the vast majority of people do not have memories which would allow them to recall that. I remember ever meeting I ever had with russians. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/83 "2017-06-13T20:48:01Z")
I like Sen. Cornyn’s tie. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/84 "2017-06-13T20:48:18Z")
Anyone, (538?) keeping track of how often he “can’t recall” the answers to questions posed by the Republicans present? ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/85 "2017-06-13T20:49:05Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > I remember ever meeting I ever had with russians. A guy like you would, because it would be a huge deal for a guy like you. But in the context of the types of meetings that US Senators routinely have, it wouldn’t be a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/86 "2017-06-13T20:56:19Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > A guy like you would, because it would be a huge deal for a guy like you. But in the context of the types of meetings that US Senators routinely have, it wouldn’t be a big deal. Wasn’t the question put before a bunch of senators lately and they were all able to remember that they hadn’t? ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/87 "2017-06-13T20:58:47Z")
I don’t know what you’re referring to. But I can tell you that at least one Democratic Senator who sanctimoniously declared that _she_ had never met these Russian people had to walk that back after photographic evidence proved that she had. Doesn’t mean she’s a liar either or has a bad memory. Politics. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/88 "2017-06-13T20:58:55Z")
Holy fuck somebody get Sen. McCain some help. It’s distressing as hell to listen to him. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/89 "2017-06-13T21:01:27Z")
It’s becoming: Q: “What?” A: “What?” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/90 "2017-06-13T21:09:45Z")
No bombshells but the whole “I can’t talk but I can’t say exactly why except to ‘preserve executive privilege once POTUS knows what you want to know about’ thing” bothers me. It’s like allowing a peek at the cards, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/91 "2017-06-13T21:10:56Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > No bombshells but the whole “I can’t talk but I can’t say exactly why except to ‘preserve executive privilege once POTUS knows what you want to know about’ thing” bothers me. > > It’s like allowing a peek at the cards, IMO. It sounds like “Trump has not briefed me on what lies to tell, so I can’t say anything until I’m told what I know and what I remember.” ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/92 "2017-06-13T21:13:38Z")
I wasn’t really sure what would come from Sessions’ testimony but now it seems pretty clear that this was just an effort to move on from Comey’s appearance last week. Whatever differences Sessions and Trump may have, they share a mutual interest in putting to bed the firing of Comey. Meanwhile the GOP’s trying to cobble together votes for the healthcare bill that few people, including their own voters, seem to support. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/93 "2017-06-13T21:18:26Z")
It was skillfully done by him. He basically said "I did everything perfectly and properly, and I don’t remember or can’t tell you about the things the president or anyone else did improperly, so I don’t implicate him but can’t get caught in a lie regardless " How long that attempt stands up depends where the rest of things go. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/94 "2017-06-13T21:19:21Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > It sounds like “Trump has not briefed me on what lies to tell, so I can’t say anything until I’m told what I know and what I remember.” Even if Trump had briefed him, how is Sessions to anticipate what Trump might Tweet in the wee small hours? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/95 "2017-06-13T21:20:27Z")
I got back in the car when they were using the “absurdity” defense, one that is clearly DOA in this administration. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/96 "2017-06-13T21:51:52Z")
This whole thing was a waste of time from the beginning. They should have told him to take his “testimony” and shove it wherever it is that Keebler elves traditionally cram things. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/97 "2017-06-13T21:54:52Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I don’t know what you’re referring to. > > But I can tell you that at least one Democratic Senator who sanctimoniously declared that _she_ had never met these Russian people had to walk that back after photographic evidence proved that she had. Doesn’t mean she’s a liar either or has a bad memory. Politics. The members of his committee were polled on contact with the russian ambassador. There were no responses that supported Sessions. Zero. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/98 "2017-06-13T22:03:57Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > The members of his committee were polled on contact with the russian ambassador. There were no responses that supported Sessions. Zero. That doesn’t contradict what I said. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/99 "2017-06-13T22:05:57Z")
One commentator said something like, “from a legal perspective, he did well.” IOW, if he was on trial, he said nothing to make it worse or hurt himself legally. OTOH he didn’t look good sitting there robotically saying “I don’t recall”, or in that exchange with Sen King, where he refused to answer questions by claiming a privilege that Trump hasn’t asserted. He didn’t come across as someone with nothing to hide. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667/100 "2017-06-13T22:06:15Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > This whole thing was a waste of time from the beginning. I agree. As I observed earlier, any time you have politicians conducting hearings in front of cameras, the whole thing is just political theater. This was especially evident in Sessions’ exchange with Harris, where she tried to cut off his answer without allowing him to add necessary qualifiers, in order to get her next question in. She had certain things she wanted to say and was up against a time limit - finding out information from Sessions had nothing to do with it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atty-gen-jeff-sessions-vs-the-senate-intelligence-committee/788667.md?page=6)