For his part, Sessions is denying the story. "I never met with any Russian officials to discuss issues of the campaign," he said in a statement issued by the Justice Department last night. "I have no idea what this allegation is about. It is false."
Sessions' advisers are telling multiple media outlets that conversations did take place -- but they were conversations Sessions had in his capacity as a senior lawmaker, not as a Trump adviser. They also point out that Sessions was not asked directly in his confirmation hearing whether he spoke to Russian officials, though he offered a categorical denial in his answer.
"I have said whenever it's appropriate, I will recuse myself," Sessions told NBC News this morning as he made his way to a vehicle. "There's no doubt about that."
Some Republicans want to know more before calling on Sessions to recuse himself. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fl., spoke to NPR's Morning Edition and said, "I'm not interested in being part of a witch hunt, but I also will not be part of a cover-up."
"It is potentially the case that there is going to be Justice Department recommendations or referrals based on anything regarding the campaign," Rubio said. "Depending on what more we learn about these meetings, it could very well be that the attorney general, in the interest of fairness and in his best interest, should potentially ask someone else to step in and play that role."
Democrats are responding to the news by ratcheting up their demands. Both House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, are now calling for Sessions' outright resignation.
"After lying under oath to Congress about his own communications with the Russians, the Attorney General must resign," Pelosi said in a statement Wednesday night. "Sessions is not fit to serve as the top law enforcement officer of our country and must resign."