# Session lies again **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 24, 2017, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379 "2017-05-24T23:17:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/21 "2017-05-25T14:18:03Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > I can’t imagine that he was conducting Senate business at the RNC. I’m not saying this is what happened, but it doesn’t really take that much imagination-- they both were there, needed to talk “Senate business” and figured, why set up a special meeting back in Washington for that. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/22 "2017-05-25T14:28:52Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I’m not saying this is what happened, but it doesn’t really take that much imagination-- they both were there, needed to talk “Senate business” and figured, why set up a special meeting back in Washington for that. Why would the Russian ambassador be at the RNC? Everyone he works with is in Washington. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/23 "2017-05-25T14:37:55Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Better vacuum your house and all jacket pockets thoroughly for marijuana residue before you criticize the little Confederate monkey. He’ll slam you in the federal pen for twenty years. I’m pretty sure Trey Gowdy is the little Confederate monkey. Are they brothers? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/24 "2017-05-25T14:45:18Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Why would the Russian ambassador be at the RNC? Everyone he works with is in Washington. Let me guess: You can’t imagine why the Russian ambassador would attend a party convention, right? 😉 The State Dept routinely invites foreign ambassadors to attend both conventions. This is not controversial, and has been going on for years. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/25 "2017-05-25T15:17:31Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Let me guess: You can’t imagine why the Russian ambassador would attend a party convention, right? 😉 > > The State Dept routinely invites foreign ambassadors to attend both conventions. This is not controversial, and has been going on for years. Ignorance fought. I still don’t understand it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/26 "2017-05-25T15:33:24Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Ignorance fought. I still don’t understand it, though. Just to exapand a little further, here is a webpage from the National Democratic Institute, a non-governmental organization aligned with the Democratic Party that works on many foreign affairs issues, describing its efforts during the 2012 convention: > [@](#): > > NDI will host more than 300 diplomats and political leaders from more than 100 countries in Charlotte, N.C., at this year’s Democratic National Convention. The visitors are part of NDI’s International Leaders Forum (ILF), which the Institute has hosted during every Democratic National Convention since 1984. > > NDI’s guests include current and former heads of state, cabinet ministers, members of parliament, political party leaders and more than 100 ambassadors who are members of the Washington-based diplomatic corps. > **[NDI Welcomes International Visitors During Democratic National Convention](https://www.ndi.org/ilf-welcomes-2012-visitors)** > > NDI will host more than 300 diplomats and political leaders from more than 100 countries in Charlotte, N.C., at this year’s Democratic National Convention. The visitors are part of NDI’s International Leaders Forum (ILF), which the Institute has... ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/27 "2017-05-25T15:51:26Z")
Impeach Tremp Now! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/28 "2017-05-25T16:21:46Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > He stopped? He has to sleep sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/29 "2017-05-25T16:38:23Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I’m pretty sure Trey Gowdy is the little Confederate monkey. Are they brothers? I prefer to think of Trey Gowdy as the “greasy shiny chipmunk turd,” but YMMV. [https://wonkette.com/617669/heres-all-your-late-breaking-trump-russia-news-for-you-to-poop-on](https://wonkette.com/617669/heres-all-your-late-breaking-trump-russia-news-for-you-to-poop-on) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/30 "2017-05-25T18:20:45Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Ignorance fought. I still don’t understand it, though. It’s to show the world how our amazingly wonderful democracy works. Yeah, I don’t get it either. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/31 "2017-05-25T19:57:42Z")
The shepherd is never far from his flock. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/32 "2017-05-25T20:05:18Z")
He wanted to make sure his vote got counted? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/33 "2017-05-25T20:13:54Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Fuck, you’re stupid sometimes… Got my faults, and its a long damn list, but “stupid” ain’t on it. . > [@](#): > > …A government form is not a hearing… I know, that’s why the first quote refers to the Senate hearing, and the latter does not. In neither case true, which is the crux of the biscuit, here. Am I typing too fast? > [@](#): > > …Misleading senators is not nearly in the same ballpark as filling out a form the way the background investigators want you to fill out the form… I believe the first instance is conducted under oath. I’m told that is an important distinction. Am I misinformed about that? As to the defense of intervening and overriding authority, whats the point of the form if telling the truth isn’t required? “Give us this information, but if you feel like skirting the truth, sure, knock yourself out.” And this: > [@](#): > > …Follow the instructions, provided to you by the office that gave you this form and any other clarifying instructions provided by that office to assist you with completion of this form… Is interpreted to mean that flat falsehoods are acceptable? And even if we buy that loophole the size of the Holland Tunnel, he still fibbed to Congress. If he can lawyer his way out of the form, he gets a freebie? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/34 "2017-05-25T20:21:20Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Got my faults, and its a long damn list, but “stupid” ain’t on it. > > I know, that’s why the first quote refers to the Senate hearing, and the latter does not. In neither case true, which is the crux of the biscuit, here. Am I typing too fast? > > … > > Is interpreted to mean that flat falsehoods are acceptable? And even if we buy that loophole the size of the Holland Tunnel, he still fibbed to Congress. If he can lawyer his way out of the form, he gets a freebie? Why, if you aren’t stupid, do you keep bringing up the hearing when I have consistently been talking about the form? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/35 "2017-05-25T20:26:50Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Well, the question on the form asks for contacts with foreign government officials that are NOT part of authorized US Government business. A senator meeting with an ambassador in his office and talking about policy stuff is clearly not intended to be declared. Session’s meeting with the Russian ambassador at the Republican Convention is arguably a problem, however. Is this correct? I just pulled up an SF-86. The 2010 version, which I think is still operative, contains this question: > [@SF-86 Section 20B.6](#): > > Have you or any member of your immediate family in the past seven (7) years had any contact with a foreign government, its establishment (such as embassy, consulate, agency, military service, intelligence or security service, etc.) or its representatives, whether inside or outside the U.S.? (Answer ‘No’ if the contact was for routine visa applications and border crossings related to either official U.S. Government travel or foreign travel on a U.S. passport.)” Doesn’t Sessions have to answer “YES” to that as to all of his Kislyak meetings? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/36 "2017-05-25T20:27:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Why, if you aren’t stupid, do you keep bringing up the hearing when I have consistently been talking about the form? You got a writ from the Thread Police, defining your capacity to set the standards? Is the thread title wrong, is that it? It can’t be “lied again” if he can squirm out of one charge, and therefore you win something? Well, then, I guess you sure showed me a thing or two! ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/37 "2017-05-25T21:01:08Z")
John Oliver characterized this circus as “Stupid Watergate”, as in this is a mess akin to the Watergate scandal, but involving really stupid people; but I think it would be better referenced as _Dimwit, Loser, Bonehead, Spy_ written by a brain-damaged John le Carré. These people aren’t the Cambridge Five. The’re not even the Duquesne Spy Ring. They’re so stupidly arrogant about flaunting federal law and reporting requirements that they make keeping a private email server for government business look like a jaywalking violation by comparison. This is like a bad knockoff of a Coen Brothers film, or a game of _Fiasco_ gone really, really wrong. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/38 "2017-05-25T23:02:07Z")
I prefer my original: “Tweeter, Hater, POTUS, Spy”, but that’s pretty good too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/39 "2017-05-26T01:45:18Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Is this correct? I just pulled up an SF-86. The 2010 version, which I think is still operative, contains this question: > > Doesn’t Sessions have to answer “YES” to that as to all of his Kislyak meetings? Well, it appears you are correct that this section does indeed direct that. After flipping through it, I see now that I was thinking of the earlier 20B questions relating to travel. However, that still does not mean that one is compelled to ignore the text of the form when given instructions by the office handling the investigation. For example, it is extremely common for applicants to be directed to provide 10 years of information on various questions even though the form directs that you provide 7 years. The DOJ has stated that the FBI investigator said that he shouldn’t include information on what is surely many hundreds of official meetings with foreign officials over a couple decades. This is not a big deal in any way, shape, or form. Contrast that to real issues, like Flynn hiding foreign payments from his disclosure forms. That is a big deal, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379/40 "2017-05-26T01:52:36Z")
Or to use another current example, Jared Kushner omitting foreign meetings from his form. It’s impossible for me to come up with a rationale for why that should be the case. But Sessions? Not an issue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/session-lies-again/787379.md?page=3)