Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, reports revealed that Attorney General Sessions spoke twice last year with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, meetings which were not disclosed during Sessions’ Senate confirmation hearings. Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence investigating Russian election interference, releases the following statement:

“Our national security and the integrity of our elections depends on the success of our investigation into Russian election interference,” said Rep. Terri Sewell. “This investigation is too important to get it wrong. That is why I have supported legislation calling for a bipartisan, independent commission with the authority and scope to get to the bottom of Russian activity. If Attorney General Jeff Sessions knowingly perjured himself during his Senate confirmation, that is an issue that must be taken seriously. At a bare minimum, Attorney General Sessions must recuse himself from the investigation into Russian election interference, ties between Russian officials and the Trump campaign, and all related work by the Department of Justice.”

Rep. Sewell has cosponsored the Protecting Our Democracy Act. This legislation would create a 12-member, bipartisan, independent commission empowered to interview witnesses, obtain documents, issue subpoenas, and receive public testimony to examine attempts by the Russian government and others to use electronic means to influence, interfere with, or sow distrust in this year’s U.S. elections.

Rep. Sewell is a Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which announced the scope of its congressional investigation into Russian election interference on Weds., March 1.

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Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) is serving her fourth term representing Alabama’s 7th Congressional district. She sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was recently appointed to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Sewell is a Chief Deputy Whip and serves on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee of the Democratic Caucus. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and serves as Vice Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, and Vice Chair of Outreach for the New Democrat Coalition.