Sessions blasts 'false allegations'

The US attorney general also rejects misconduct in the firing of Comey

WASHINGTON - US Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday denied alleged involvement in any collusion with Russia during last year's presidential campaign, calling it an "appalling and detestable lie".

"The suggestion that I participated in any collusion or that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government to hurt or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie," he told lawmakers when testifying before the US Senate Intelligence Committee.

"Not one thing happened that was improper" in his two meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the campaign, said Sessions, who was then an Alabama senator and a close adviser to Donald Trump.

Sessions also denied that he had a third, unreported meeting with the Russian envoy during the campaign.

"I have never met with or had any conversations with any Russians or any foreign officials concerning any type of interference with any campaign or election in the United States," the Trump admistration's top lawyer said.

"Further, I have no knowledge of any such conversations by anyone connected with the Trump campaign," he added.

US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an effort to interfere in the US presidential election, including hacking and disclosing damaging emails against Trump's rival, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Russia has denied any interference, and Trump has denied any collusion with Moscow.

During Tuesday's hearing, Sessions also rejected misconduct in the firing of James Comey, director of FBI, vowing to defend his "honor against scurrilous and false allegations".

He said it was not improper for Trump to meet with the then FBI chief Comey, but it was improper for Comey to disclose the content of his one-to-one talks with Trump.

The attorney general also said he couldn't confirm or deny private talks he had with Trump regarding Comey's firing.

On June 8, Comey said he was confused over the circumstances under which he was fired on May 9, claiming Trump had "hoped" that he would drop the FBI investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn over alleged collusion with Russia during the Trump campaign.

Trump has denied Comey's accusation, saying Comey was not speaking the truth.

Comey also said in his testimony that he knew details that made Sessions' involvement in the FBI Russia probe "problematic."

Sessions was the first US senator to publicly support the Trump campaign last year.

Xinhua - Ap