Russia Reacts to Drama in Washington
VAUSE: Welcome back. More on our breaking news. The U.S. Justice Department says Jeff Sessions, who was a top advisor to presidential candidate, Donald Trump, spoke twice with Russia's U.S. ambassador during the campaign. But Sessions did not mention those contacts during his confirmation hearing.</s>SESAY: Sessions has responded saying he never with Russian officials to discuss the campaign. More now from CNN's justice correspondent, Evan Perez.</s>EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In addition to the September meeting, there was also one on the sidelines at the RNC in Cleveland. There was an event held by the heritage foundation, and apparently according to the Justice Department, there were about 50 or so ambassador there, and one of the people that was on the sidelines of it and who met with the now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions was the Russian ambassador. Now, the context of all this, and obviously, the Russian post, my friends, Gregg Miller, did a great job on the story, but the context here is that the Russian ambassador is considered by U.S. Intelligence to be essentially their top spy in Washington, and not only their top spy but top spy recruiter. This is the reason why, when Mike Flynn was in routine and seemingly routine contact with him, and then lied about it and misled the vice president about meeting with the Russian ambassador, that's one reason why the FBI was concerned, because they felt that if you meet with the guy and not recall or mislead when you are asked about it, then that raises some questions. Again, this is a case considered to be the top spy recruiter for the Russians in Washington, and that's one reason why that is a concern.</s>VAUSE: Back with us now, Republican consultant John Thomas; and Democratic strategist, Robin Swanson.</s>SESAY: And from Moscow, CNN's senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance.</s>VAUSE: Before the break, we talked about the implications in terms of perjury. This is a tweet from the former ethics lawyer to President Bush. And this is what he put out on Twitter, "Misleading the Senate in sworn testimony about one's own contacts with the Russians is a good way to go to jail." John, that is from a Republican. And just in the past, Sessions, back in 1999, made it clear that anyone who committed perjury should be removed from office. If we get to that point, would that same standard apply to the attorney general?</s>THOMAS: I imagine it would. There's no way getting around it. Now, put that tweet in contacts. There's riffs between the Bush and Trump clan. Probably enjoyed tweeting that, but it's a fair point.</s>VAUSE: Robin?</s>SWANSON: Jeff Sessions was out front criticizing Bill Clinton in the day and wanted to impeach him for similarly misleading, so far. I just think that hypocrisy is there.</s>THOMAS: Bill Clinton lied under oath.</s>SWANSON: He's under oath talking to the Senate as well. This is the same thing.</s>SESAY: Does this just overtake the White House for the next 24 hours?</s>SWANSON: Absolutely. I think they have not been able to control a news cycle. They really wanted to be able to do the -- just to have a ticker-tape parade for the great speech, but that's not going to happen, and I would say more than 24 hours that the Russiagate, as it's being called, is going to extend for many months if not the entirety of his presidency, because that's what he's outlined.</s>VAUSE: Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, no fan of Russia. He was asked about the situation with Jeff Sessions in a CNN town hall. He was asked if he believes there's a need for a special prosecutor, and listen to Senator Graham.</s>SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: If there is something there, and it goes up the chain of investigation, it is clear to me that Jeff Sessions, who is my dear friend, cannot make this decision about Trump. So there may be nothing there. But if there's nothing there that the FBI believes is criminal in nature, then for sure you need a special prosecutor. If that day ever comes, I'll be the first one to say it needs to be somebody other than Jeff.</s>VAUSE: John, last night, 24 hours ago, I asked you how -- the night before last -- how long can the administration resist the push for a special prosecutor. You said they can resist it for a long time. Now that the Republicans like Graham and others are inching toward that position, does it get harder?</s>THOMAS: Much harder. Republicans have to tread lightly. Their integrity in this process of sniffing out what happened has to be beyond reproach. Senator Graham made the right call. He's not jumping to conclusions, but we have to make sure the process is transparent and conflicts of interest are weeded out. The American people have to trust that no matter what Congress or the investigators find is the truth.</s>SESAY: Who leads the charge for the Democrats in the days ahead?</s>SWANSON: Well, I think they're all jumping on board. I think Nancy Pelosi was one of the first out of the box calling on Jeff Sessions to resign. So I think we'll see more of that. And I think this is one of the rare occasions where I can say I agree with Senator Lindsey Graham.</s>VAUSE: With day 42 into this administration, we've had the national security adviser resign with another scandal involving Russia. On Tuesday, in the president's address to Congress, he never mentioned Russia at all. Senator John McCain said that was disappointing.</s>SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R), ARIZONA: I would have liked to have a lot more about Russia. Russia is the country that tried to change the elections in the United States. I don't think they succeeded. Right now, they're affecting or trying to affect the elections in march. They've dismembered Ukraine and the list goes on. Vladimir Putin is hell bent on the destruction of the European Union. I would have appreciated hearing the president's views on these pressing initial security issues.</s>VAUSE: Let's go to Matthew Chance live in Moscow. Matthew, there is another scandal involving Russia and the U.S. administration. They White House is actually using its own investigation. It is a story which, as much as this administration would like for it to go away, it keeps getting bigger.</s>MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRSEPONDENT: Yeah. The Russia issue just won't go away from the Trump administration. Already a couple of people who have had to leave his administration because of the links with Russia, and now the questions over the attorney general as well. From a Russian point of view, it's all concerns as they watch this political drama unfold in Washington, because they're concerned about what impact this is going to have on U.S. policy when it comes to Russia. They were expecting, of course, a President Trump who was going to be sympathetic to the Russian point of view on a range of issues from Ukraine to NATO to Syria. But because the Russia issue has become toxic in American politics, that started to change, certainly the language is starting to change from Trump administration officials, particularly at the united nations security council and other areas as well. Being more critical than people in the kremlin expected. Specifically, on the latest allegations, there's been no reaction to the specifics of the alleged conversations between the Russian ambassador and the U.S. Attorney general Jeff Sessions. But there has been pushback on this idea that the Russian ambassador is the top Russian spy in the United States. Do you think this is the media bottom post the spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry or does the media have further to fall? A strong pushback there from the Russian foreign ministry on the suggestion that the Russian ambassador is a spy.</s>VAUSE: Thank you, Matthew. Matthew Chance, senior international correspondent with us live from Moscow.</s>SESAY: John, do you expect President Trump to weigh in on this personally in the hours ahead? Do you expect him to go to Twitter?</s>THOMAS: I should check my Twitter.</s>VAUSE: If he uses the fake news, that will get old. (</s>LAUGHTER0 SWANSON: Especially when people of his own party are calling him out.</s>THOMAS: The problem is people are jumping to conclusions before knowing the facts. That's the fake part.</s>VAUSE: That's true. Good point. Stay with us.</s>VAUSE: There's more news to get to. Stick around.</s>THOMAS: Can't wait.</s>SESAY: You'll love it. President Trump later claims in the speech to Congress. We'll see if they add up, next, here on NEWSROOM L.A.</s>VAUSE: And also thank Matthew Chance in Moscow. Thanks, Matthew.</s>VAUSE: Thanks, Matthew.