By Joe Crowe   |   Thursday, 09 Mar 2017

Jeff Sessions, the U.S. Attorney General, said he is open to appointing an outside counsel to probe President Barack Obama's Justice Department or those who worked at the Internal Revenue Service during his tenure.

Sessions made the comment Thursday in a conversation with Hugh Hewitt. 

"I'm going to do everything I possibly can to restore the independence and professionalism of the Department of Justice," Sessions said. "So, we'll have to consider whether or not some outside counsel is needed. Generally, a good review of that internally is the first step before any such decision is made."

During Obama's administration, his attorney general, Eric Holder, was held in contempt of Congress regarding a claim the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms allowed illegal gun sales to and from Mexico in order to track drug cartels, according to CNN. 

During Obama's administration, the IRS was said to have targeted conservative groups. In October 2015, CNN reported the Department of Justice announced no charges would be filed in the investigation. 

About the IRS case, Sessions said, "That circumstance raised a lot of questions in my mind, and when I was in the Senate. So, it is a matter of real concern to me."

Sessions is himself under fire over statements he made about meetings with a Russian ambassador. Sen. Al Franken said Tuesday he believed Sessions has committed perjury.

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