US attorney general to testify in open hearing

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify in a public hearing on Tuesday before the Senate intelligence committee, chairman Richard Burr announced Monday.

Sessions's testimony comes as the committee probes potential collusions between President Donald Trump's campaign team and an alleged Russian campaign aimed at skewing the 2016 presidential race in his favor.

Tuesday's testimony will be the first public hearing that Sessions will participate in after recusing himself from any Justice Department investigation into Russia -- a decision that reportedly continues to strain his relationship with Trump.

The Justice Department said Sessions requested that the hearing, which will begin at 2:30 p.m. (1830GMT), be public.

"He believes it is important for the American people to hear the truth directly from him and looks forward to answering the committee's questions tomorrow," spokesman Ian Prior told Anadolu Agency.

The Senate investigation is one of three Russia inquiries, including one being headed by the FBI.

Last week, ousted FBI Director James Comey dropped bombshell revelations during a three-hour hearing in which he consistently took aim at the president's credibility, calling him a liar no less than five times.

The White House disputed the characterization, calling it offensive.