US attorney general Sessions vehemently denies Russia allegations

Jeff Sessions, the current US attorney general, testified in front of the Senate intelligence committee on Monday denying that he had been involved in any collusion with Russia during the 2016 presidential election campaign.

Sessions told the committee, which also heard testimony from fired FBI director James Comey last week, that any suggestion that he had any knowledge of such actions was an “appalling and detestable lie”.

US President Donald Trump’s administration has been dogged by allegations of collusion with the Kremlin in last year’s election.

In a tense session of the Senate committee, members grilled Sessions on a series of issues, including conversations he had with Trump and his role in Comey’s departure as head of the FBI.

"I was your colleague in this body for 20 years, and the suggestion that I participated in any collusion or that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government to hurt this country, which I have served with honor for over 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie," an angry Sessions said.

Democrats on the committee grew frustrated as Sessions continually refused to answer the questions put to him

Sessions refused to answer any questions relating to certain conversations that took place between himself and Trump, citing executive privilege despite the fact that the President has not invoked it.

"I am protecting the right of the president to assert it if he chooses, and there may be other privileges that apply," he said. "At this point, I believe it’s premature for me to deny the president a full and intelligent choice about executive privilege."

Democrats on the committee grew frustrated as Sessions continually refused to answer the questions put to him.

"You are obstructing this congressional investigation by not answering these questions," New Mexico senator Martin Heinrich said.

Last week’s explosive testimony from Comey raised further questions about the claims that Russia had attempted to interfere in the election, with the ongoing FBI investigation continuing to look into the alleged links.