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Sessions has retained Washington-based lawyer Charles Cooper,
whom spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores described as a long-time
friend of the former senator.
She did not say when Cooper was hired or whether he would be
Sessions' defense lawyer in the federal probe into alleged
Russian interference in last year's presidential election and
possible collusion by Trump's campaign team.
Cooper was present at Sessions' confirmation hearing and again
when he testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee
earlier this month.
Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation in early
March, shortly after news reports surfaced of his previously
undisclosed contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak.
He has since come under further scrutiny for his role in the
firing of former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James
Comey in May. Comey accused the president of dismissing him to
undermine the investigation into ties between the Trump campaign
team and Russian officials.
During his testimony before the Senate committee, Sessions
angrily denied any wrongdoing.
Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and senior adviser Jared
Kushner have also hired attorneys as special counsel Robert
Mueller, appointed after Comey's dismissal, leads the Russia
investigation.
(Reporting by Julia Ainsley; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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