Sen. Joe Manchin told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota Thursday that it isn’t unusual for senators to meet with ambassadors of other countries.
The West Virginia Democrat — in clear defense of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has been accused of not disclosing alleged meetings with the Russian Ambassador to the United States during President Trump’s campaign — argued that there’s no way to know if Sessions was acting on “his official duty being on [the] Armed Services [Committee]” or discussing campaign strategies. (RELATED: Sessions Reportedly Failed To Disclose Contacts With Russian Officials)
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“Have you met with the Russian Ambassador?” Camerota asked Manchin.
“I have,” he responded. “I’ve met with the Russian Ambassador with a group, in my capacity, with a group of other senators,” he explained. “That’s in my official capacity. That’s nothing. That’s my job.”
