WASHINGTON — On Thursday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions withdrew from any deep examination into suspected Russian interference in the 2016 general election.

Jef Sessions

Sessions asserted that he did no wrong in withholding comment during Senate testimony regarding his meeting with Russia’s ambassador last year.

Sessions told reporters at a press conference that he has, “recused myself in the matters that deal with the Trump campaign.”

Sessions, a high ranking member of Trump’s inner circle, will not be briefed on any details of the probe. He would not be able to have leverage in the Department of Justice decision to take the case.

U.S. intelligence agencies determined last year that Russia hacked and leaked Democratic emails during the election campaign as to sway the election results in Trump’s favor.

Russia has denied the allegations.

USA Today reported that two other officials in Trump’s campaign reported speaking with the Russian ambassador at a conference during a convention last July.