Attorney General Jeff Sessions refused Wednesday to say whether he's recused himself from involvement in the Justice Department's investigation into President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.

"I should not answer that question; it would be inappropriate to do so," Sessions said at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing. "It is the policy of the Department of Justice that those who recuse themselves not state the details of it or confirm the existence of a investigation or the scope or nature of that investigation."

A person familiar with the matter said earlier that Sessions has decided not to recuse himself from the investigation into Cohen but will step back from specific matters if required by department rules.