WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions was reportedly interviewed for several hours last week by the special counsel's office as part of the ongoing Russia probe.

The meeting, first reported by The New York Times on Tuesday, was the first time that investigators for the special counsel, Robert Mueller, are known to have questioned a member of U.S. President Donald Trump's cabinet.

Other U.S. news outlets confirmed the Sessions-Mueller interview, citing a spokesman for the Justice Department that declined to provide any details.

Mueller is investigating allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

The special counsel's team was also reportedly looking into any attempts by Trump to obstruct the Russian investigation.

Sessions, an early supporter of Trump's presidential bid, has drawn attention for his contacts with Russian during the presidential campaign, and had a role in Trump's firing of then FBI director last May.

Sessions also recused himself from the Russia investigation last March, a move that meant he had no power to influence Mueller's probe and led to repeated criticism from the president.