US Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify in a public hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee tomorrow, the committee chairman has said
Mr Sessions is likely to face questions by the SenateIntelligence Committee over his dealings with Russian officials during President Donald Trump’s election campaign and whether he had a role in firing former FBI Director James Comey.
Mr Comey testified last week before the same panel.
Until the panel chairman's statement it had been unclear whether Mr Sessions would testify in an open or closed setting.
Mr Comey told the panel last Thursday that the FBI had information in mid-February on Mr Sessions that would have made it "problematic" for him to continue leading a federal probe into Russian attempts to influence the presidential election.
Mr Sessions recused himself from the inquiry in March after media reports that he had been in two previously undisclosed meetings last year with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak.
Members of the committee are likely to ask Mr Sessions about a possible third undisclosed meeting that is now under investigation, according to media reports.
Mr Sessions, a former senator and an early supporter of Mr Trump's election campaign, will be the most senior government official to testify to the committee on the Russia issue.
The matter has dogged the Republican president's early months in office.
A Justice Department spokeswoman said Mr Sessions requested the open setting because "he believes it is important for the American people to hear the truth directly from him."
He is scheduled to testify from 7.30pm Irish time.
Media reports last week said Mr Sessions offered to resign because of tensions with Mr Trump over his decision to recuse himself from the FBI's Russia probe.
The matter is also being investigated by several congressional panels, including the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Russia has denied interfering in the US election. The White House has denied any collusion with Russia.
