WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Alabama today released the following statement regarding allegations of improper meetings between then Sen. Jeff Sessions and Russian diplomats.

“The unsubstantiated allegations about Russian coordination are becoming almost like the ‘birther’ issue of the Democratic party,” said Robert Aderholt.“  It is not at all unusual for members of Congress to speak with ambassadors from other countries on an almost weekly basis.  The fact of the matter is that Jeff Sessions is an American patriot who would not do anything to jeopardize the sanctity and security of the country he not only has served for decades, but a country he deeply loves.

“These allegations are nothing more than a partisan smoke screen to detract from the fact Donald Trump won the election fair and square.  It is like some of the Democrats counted their chickens before they were hatched and now have egg on their faces.”

The Haleyville American Legion Whitehead Post 33 will meet tonight at 7 p.m. with guest speaker Joel Mize. Joel is a Haleyville native and a grand-nephew of Private George Harrison Whitehead who was killed in the Meuse-Argonne Forest Campaign at the close of World War I. Mize has researched North Alabama’s role in WWI, principally in the Shoals area where Wilson Dam and the nitrate plants were important to the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps. In the presentation, Mize will have remarks about Whitehead and Private John V. Hoggle, (Hoggle Ridge Road) and the scope of the Shoals area undertaking which employed Haleyville people at the time. The general public is invited to this presentation tonight at 7.