Less than a week after two Republicans attempted to silence Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) during a Senate Intelligence Hearing, Harris was hushed yet again by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) as she questioned Attorney General Jeff Sessions during his testimony Tuesday.
While delivering a steady stream of questions to Sessions about the Trump administration colluding with Russia, Harris was instructed by McCain – who can be heard off camera — to let Sessions answer the question. McCain’s interruption was immediately followed by committee chairman and Sen. Richard Burr’s (R-N.C.) own two cents, who was quick to let both Harris and McCain know who ran the show.
“Senators will allow the chairs to control the hearing,” Burr said. “Senator Harris, let him answer.”
Both interruptions came after Sessions, who appeared to be refusing to answer Harris’ questions, announced that the California senator’s line of questioning made him “nervous.”
“Did you have any communication with any Russian businessmen or Russian nationals?,” Harris asked.
“I don’t believe I had any conversation with Russian businessmen or Russian nationals. Although a lot of people at the convention, it’s conceivable,” Sessions replied.
When Harris attempted to insert a follow-up question, Sessions interrupted:
“If I don’t qualify, it you’ll accuse me of lying so I need to be correct as best as I can.”
“I do want you to be honest,” Harris said.
“And I’m not to be able to be rushed this fast. It makes me nervous.”
Later, when asked if he was aware of any other Trump campaign officials and their communication with Russian nationals, Sessions responded with a familiar refrain throughout his testimony.
“I don’t recall that…yet.”
At the start of the hearing, Sessions denied any collusion with Russian officials, calling any suggestion of such a “detestable lie.”