US Attorney General Jeff Sessions was questioned last week for several hours by investigators probing possible collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump's election campaign, the Justice Department has confirmed.
Mr Sessions, who like Mr Trump has repeatedly downplayed the idea that Russian meddling helped Mr Trump get elected, was the first known member of the president's cabinet to face questioning by Justice Department Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigators.
The Justice Department declined to provide any details of the interview, but Mr Sessions is one of a number of senior Trump campaign advisors whose contacts with Russians has drawn attention.
He met former Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak on three occasions during the campaign.
He was also in charge of the campaign's team of foreign policy advisors, including George Papadopoulos, who had extensive Russian contacts and tried to set up a meeting between Mr Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Papadopoulos has pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about those contacts.
Mr Mueller's interest in Mr Sessions also might include what he knows about any attempts by Mr Trump to obstruct the Russia investigation.
Mr Sessions had a key role in the firing of FBI director James Comey on 9 May 2017, whose pursuit of the Russia meddling case angered Mr Trump.
In March, Mr Sessions recused himself from anything to do with investigations involving the 2016 election, a move that meant he had no power to influence Mr Mueller's probe.
The Washington political news website Axios reported yesterday that Mr Sessions, at Mr Trump's bidding, has most recently pressured Mr Comey's successor Christopher Wray to fire FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, a Comey ally.
Axios said Mr Wray threatened to resign if Mr McCabe was fired.
