US Attorney General Jeff Sessions quits Russia probe

Media captionJeff Sessions: "I have recused myself in the matters that deal with the Trump campaign"

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has bowed to pressure and removed himself from an FBI inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the US election. 

America's top prosecutor said he did not lie when he testified at a January confirmation hearing that he had "no communications with the Russians".

Trump opponents have mocked his relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin

But Democrats are demanding he resign after it emerged he met Moscow's envoy during last year's White House race. Claims of Kremlin interference have dogged President Donald Trump.

"I have decided to recuse myself from any existing or future investigations of any matters related in any way to the campaigns for president of the United States," Mr Sessions said in a statement.

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In a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington DC, he said his comments at his confirmation hearing were "honest and correct as I understood it at the time".

What's Mr Sessions accused of?

During the Senate hearing on 10 January, Mr Sessions was asked: "If there is any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government, in the course of this campaign, what will you do?"