Sessions was forced to recuse him from federal Russia investigations after The Washington Post reported that the former Alabama senator had met twice with the Russian ambassador, even though he testified during his confirmation hearing in January that he “did not have communications with the Russians.” Later, it was revealed that there was a third undisclosed meeting.

On Jan. 17, Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) asked Sessions in a letter: “Several of the President-Elect’s nominees or senior advisers have Russian ties. Have you been in contact with anyone connected to any part of the Russian government about the 2016 election, either before or after Election Day?”

Sessions replied, “No.” This answer has been proven to be false.

18 U.S. Code 1001 applies to the Leahy letter even if Sessions’s responses to the senator weren’t sworn. This statute prohibits falsifying or hiding information or providing materially false or fraudulent information to the government — even if not under oath.