Attorney General Jeff Sessions flatly denied reports of a possible undisclosed meeting with the Russian ambassador during the 2016 campaign in his opening statement before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday. He called the suggestion that he colluded with Russia during the campaign an “appalling, detestable lie.” In the questioning that followed, senators asked about Sessions’ recusal from any investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and followed up on questions raised during former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony on June 8.

Here are his full prepared remarks to the committee, annotated by NPR journalists.