AG Jeff Sessions Set To Testify Before Senate Intelligence Committee

All eyes will be on Attorney General Jeff Sessions as he testifies in public Tuesday to address issues related to former FBI Director James Comey and the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

Sessions, who served in the Senate representing Alabama, will testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

He was originally scheduled to testify on President Trump's budget before the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, but now Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will take his place. The Justice Department's public affairs division confirmed Monday that Sessions would speak in an open session after some speculation that he might testify in a closed hearing.

"The Attorney General has requested that this hearing be public. He believes it is important for the American people to hear the truth directly from him and looks forward to answering the committee's questions tomorrow," the Justice Department said.

Sessions' appearance comes less than a week after Comey testified before the same panel Thursday for the first time before Congress since Mr. Trump fired him as FBI director on May 9. Comey reportedly told lawmakers in the closed session following the open hearing that Sessions had a third undisclosed discussion with a senior Russian diplomat last year. It was only previously known that Sessions had two meetings with Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak. He will, therefore, likely face questions about each individual meeting or phone call with Russian officials during the 2016 campaign and after the election.

Sessions last testified before Congress in his confirmation hearing in January.

CBS News will have special coverage Tuesday afternoon starting at 1:30 p.m.