Democrats: Jeff Sessions perjured himself

Shortly after the Justice Department revealed that Attorney General Jeff Sessions had repeated contacts with Russia during the presidential campaign, Democratic officials like House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer began to call on Sessions to resign:

Because the Department of Justice should be above reproach, for the good of the country, the Attorney General should resign.

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 2, 2017

AG Sessions is not fit to serve as the top law enforcement officer of our country and must resign. https://t.co/5r8KpGQSRT pic.twitter.com/vKSVuvTIf3

— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) March 2, 2017

While Democrats demanded Sessions’ resignation, Republicans tried to soften the blow by calling for Sessions to recuse himself from any investigations into Team Trump’s Russia ties. These revelations, however, are in direct contradiction of Sessions’ testimony at his Senate confirmation hearing:

Senator Franken, I’m not aware of any of those activities. I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I did not have communications with the Russians, and I’m unable to comment on it.

In the hours since this story broke, notable elected Democrats have begun to point out that Sessions lied under oath, and even to openly accuse him of perjury:

Those of us who opposed Sessions from the beginning saw him for who he was — a throwback and a liar. Sessions needs to resign, immediately.

— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) March 2, 2017

It is clear Attorney General Jeff #Sessions lied under oath about meeting with Russian officials. He must resign immediately.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) March 2, 2017

HERE is my written Q to Sen. Sessions in the confirmation process, and his unequivocal answer, under oath: https://t.co/cWHyjz4P6C

— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) March 2, 2017

It's not illegal for a Senator to speak w the Russian Ambassador. So why lie about it under oath? Makes no sense, unless…

— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) March 2, 2017

We are far past recusal. Jeff #Sessions lied under oath. Anything less than resignation or removal from office is unacceptable.

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) March 2, 2017

If it turns out Sessions lied under oath, he of course will be sbjct to criminal prosecution & shld immediately resign. #ResolutionofInquiry https://t.co/Lw3oDdv62x

— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) March 2, 2017

No spin from Trump admin can hide the fact that Sessions lied under oath and committed perjury about Russian ties. Sessions must resign.

— Tom Perez (@TomPerez) March 2, 2017

Perjury is a felony and may be punishable by prison for up to five years. pic.twitter.com/Vj2s4Wjri3

— Keith Ellison (@keithellison) March 2, 2017

I have called repeatedly for independent prosecutor&now there is no question possible perjury&other criminal violations demand it #Sessions

— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) March 2, 2017

per·ju·ry (noun)

the offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath or affirmation.https://t.co/x9qN6nyD3t

— Joe Crowley (@JoeCrowleyNY) March 2, 2017

The @FBI must investigate Jeff Sessions for lying to Congress under oath #Perjury

— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) March 2, 2017

In case you were curious, here’s the federal code on perjury. cc: @TheJusticeDept #Sessions pic.twitter.com/ax9AqIqdUb

— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) March 2, 2017

My full statement calling for AG Jeff #Sessions to resign following reports of perjury #mepolitics https://t.co/KRrPLgLCsv

— Congresswoman Chellie Pingree 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 (@chelliepingree) March 2, 2017

Perjury by Exec Branch officials to Congress is so serious that there's a specific law criminalizing it. #Sessions https://t.co/elaVNHz8Cd

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 2, 2017

A perjury conviction carries a prison sentence of up to five years. If pressure on Sessions continues to escalate, he may end up wishing he really had offered to recuse himself — as several media outlets falsely reported that he did — or that he had heeded the calls for his resignation.