Comey hints that there are 'facts' we don't yet know about why Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russia probe
Sessions recused himself from all matters related to the Russia investigation in early March after it became public that he did not mention meetings he had with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the campaign during his confirmation hearings.
Comey said the FBI was "also aware of facts" regarding Sessions "that I can't disclose in an open setting" that made it necessary for Sessions to recuse himself from Russia matters.
Earlier this week, multiple outlets reported on the deteriorating relationship between Sessions and President Donald Trump. ABC News reported Tuesday that Sessions even recently suggested he could resign amid the growing "friction" between the two. The souring relationship was a result of Sessions' recusal, news outlets reported, which was at the center of Trump's months-long frustrations.
"Our judgment, as I recall, was that he was very close to and inevitably going to recuse himself for a variety of reasons," Comey said. "We also were aware of facts that I can't discuss in an open setting that would make his continued engagement in a Russia-related investigation problematic."
"And so we were convinced, and in fact I think we already heard that the career people were recommending he recuse himself, that he was going to be in contact with Russia-related matters much longer," he continued. "And that turned out to be the case."