Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Friday he "would expect not" to be involved in decisions dealing with former national security adviser Michael Flynn, nodding and quickly saying "yeah" after he was asked if he would recuse himself from the investigation.
"I don't know if there's an investigation or should be," Sessions said, after NBC'S "Today" show anchor Matt Lauer asked him if he would "recuse yourself from any decision dealing with General Flynn."
"We don't confirm investigations in the Department of Justice," Sessions continued.
He went on to explain that earlier this year, when he recused himself from investigations concerning coordination between President Donald Trump's associates and Russian officials, the recusal dealt "with the campaign issues."
When it came to questions over whether Flynn was vetted by the Trump transition team before he became the national security adviser, a role that does not require additional Senate confirmation, Sessions said the team did the best it could.
"They work hard on vetting," Sessions said. "They do the best they can, and I don't know what they did in that case. I'm not aware and not involved in studying it."
Flynn's attorney has also asked for immunity in exchange for testifying, but Sessions said "we'll see" when asked if that will happen.
"The people to decide that will be the people to decide this,' said Sessions.
Meanwhile, Trump told the Washington Examiner this week that the investigation into Russian involvement in the election is a "faux story" being used by Democrats to justify how they lost the election, but Sessions hedged on questions about whether the probe is fake.
The investigation, Sessions pointed out, is now under the direction of new Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
"I recused myself," he reminded Lauer and Guthrie. "I'm not going to comment about the case. You know I can't talk about that case."
Sessions also discussed Trump's first 100 days in office, and agreed with the president's comments from a Reuters interview that the presidency is a "tough job."
"He works so hard," said Sessions."This man has tremendous strength and energy, and he works into the night every night. So, it is a tough job. My job is a 12-hour-a-day job also. I have to tell you. It's exciting and thrilling. Every now and then you feel like you're making a contribution to America, and I'm sure the president gets satisfaction for that."
When asked if Trump should have been more prepared for the challenges of office, Sessions said he does believe Trump was prepared, and that he has a good philosophy for the position.
"Carrying out the approaches and going through the minutia and the Congress and all of the problems we have to execute change in America, is a real challenge, and it is frustrating, I'm sure, for businessmen on occasion," said Sessions. "He is used to getting things done quickly."
On ABC's "Good Morning America," Sessions outlined his plans for a visit to Long Island on Friday to speak about violent crime and gangs.
"We see this MS-13 gang that has been involved in that area as a national threat, really," said Sessions. "It's grown dramatically. It now has 10,000 members in the United States. It's being organized and led from El Salvador, from prison, actually."
Sessions is expected to be greeted by protesters over immigration during his Long Island appearance, and he told ABC that he considers immigrants "great for America."
"We admit 1.1 million a year legally," he said. "We'll support that system. We believe in it. Persons do not have the right to enter the country illegally. If they commit crimes, they should be tried and convicted and deported."
The attorney general, also appearing on "CBS This Morning," said the Trump administration is on the verge of creating a lawful system of immigration, which Americans have wanted for decades.
"We'll get funding for the wall," said Sessions. "It's important to do so. I would just say this year we could use some money this year, but it's not critical because this year sends Sept. 30."