UPDATE: Jeff Sessions Recuses Himself From Russia Investigations After Facing Criticism From Congress

UPDATE: The New York Times is reporting that Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recused himself from the investigations into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election after meeting with top officials at the Justice Department on Thursday.

A Washington Post report revealed Wednesday that Sessions had two conversations with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. during last year's campaign, despite Sessions' denial of such communications during his January confirmation hearing. 

Earlier on Thursday, President Donald Trump had said he did not believe Sessions needed to recuse himself from the investigations, and asserted that he had "total" confidence in the former senator.

Watch Sessions' news conference below:

Original story:

After a report revealed Attorney General Jeff Sessions failed to disclose communications he had with the Russian ambassador to the U.S., key Republicans are urging the former senator to recuse himself.

According to The Washington Post, Sessions had two conversations with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the presidential campaign last year while serving as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Kislyak is considered to be one of Russia's top spies and spy recruiters, according to CNN. His conversations with former national security adviser Michael Flynn led to Flynn being fired last month.

Though he was explicitly asked during his January confirmation hearing whether "anyone affiliated" with the campaign had contact with the Russians, Sessions did not mention his own talks.

"I have never met with any Russian officials to discuss issues of the campaign," Sessions said in a statement after the Washington Post's report was published Wednesday evening. "I have no idea what this allegation is about. It is false."

As attorney general, Sessions is now tasked with leading the investigation into Russia's involvement in the presidential election — and while President Donald Trump said Thursday that he has "total" confidence in Sessions, some Republican lawmakers are questioning whether Sessions is fit for the role.

The first Republican congressman to break ranks and call for Sessions' recusal was Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who chairs the House Oversight Committee. 

"AG Sessions should clarify his testimony and recuse himself," Chaffetz tweeted early Thursday morning.

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) were next to speak out, as The Huffington Post pointed out.

"Jeff Sessions is a former colleague and a friend, but I think it would be best for him and for the country to recuse himself from the DOJ Russia probe," Portman said in a statement, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Collins, who introduced Sessions at the confirmation hearing where he denied his contact with Russians, said Sessions should recuse himself "to ensure public confidence in the Justice Department’s investigation."

"(Sessions) should also clarify his statements to the Judiciary Committee with respect to his communications with the Russian ambassador," Collins added, per Boston.com.

While more than a dozen Republican lawmakers have joined Democrats in encouraging Sessions to recuse himself, others were hesitant to demand he immediately step aside.

House Majority Leader Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said he doesn't believe Sessions should recuse himself unless he's investigated by the FBI.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) went a step further, saying Sessions' contacts with Kislyak are being overblown — though he didn't completely rule out asking Sessions to recuse himself, according to The Huffington Post.

"What we’re witnessing right now is the political theater of Democrats feigning outrage at a perfectly ordinary meeting between a sitting United States senator and a foreign ambassador," Cruz said. "It is part of the job of being a senator to meet with ambassadors and foreign leaders."