Tag: Rod Rosenstein

Rosenstein plans to leave Justice Department next month

Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein plans to leave the Justice Department in mid-March, an official familiar with the matter said Monday night, and an announcement on his successor is expected imminently.

Rosenstein, the No. 2 Justice Department official who has spent nearly two years in the hot seat since appointing Robert S. Mueller III to lead an investigation into whether President Trump’s campaign conspired with Russia to interfere in the 2016 election, had made it known in recent weeks that he planned to leave if and when a new attorney general was confirmed by the Senate.

With William P. Barr’s swearing in to that post last week, Rosenstein has set a more precise timeline for departure — though the official stressed his plan could shift if needed to ensure a smooth transition.

View the February 18 article by Matt Zapotosky on The Washington Post website here.

Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein said Trump ordered him to write the memo justifying James Comey’s firing, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe writes

Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein Credit: Mary Turner, Reuters

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein did not choose to write the heavily scrutinized memo explaining former FBI Director James Comey’s firing, but did it under order from President Donald Trump, an upcoming book says.

Behind closed doors, Rosenstein complained about having to create the document used to justify the former FBI chief’s ouster in May 2017, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe writes, according to the Guardian. Trump’s removal of Comey, which came during the bureau’s probe into Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election and whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin, is part of a probe into whether the president obstructed justice.

“He said it wasn’t his idea. The president had ordered him to write the memo justifying the firing,” McCabe wrote of remarks Rosenstein made at a May 2017 meeting, according to the Guardian.

View the complete February 8 article on the CNBC website here.

Want to Know More About: Deputy Director Rod Rosenstein?

Jonathan Karl On Rod Rosenstein’s Relationship With President Trump, “We’re Told The Two Men Spoke For 45 Minutes Aboard Air Force One. Unclear How Much They Discussed Those Reports, Or The Russia Probe, Which Rosenstein Oversees.” DAVID MUIR: “Jon, President Trump was joined on Air Force One today by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Everyone at home likely remembers Rosenstein’s fate had been uncertain after The New York Times first reported that he once allegedly wanted to secretly record the president, even reportedly discussed potentially removing him through the 25th amendment. What are you learning about the conversation today?” JONATHAN KARL: “We’re told the two men spoke for 45 minutes aboard Air Force One. Unclear how much they discussed those reports, or the Russia probe, which Rosenstein oversees. But the bottom line is this, David, after the meeting, Rosenstein was not fired, in fact, the president said he plans on making no changes. And when asked about the conversation, he said, ‘We had a really good talk. We actually get along.’” [World News Tonight, ABC, 10/8/18; VIDEO]

Cecilia Vega On Trump’s Statements Regarding Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s Credibility, “We’ve Seen A Full Arc Here From Him Saying That Christine Blasey Ford Was Credible To That Stunning Moment Overnight Where He Declared Justice Kavanaugh Innocent. That Did Not Happen. The Judge Was Not Declared Innocent.” GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: “The justice now striking the right notes now, of course, very different from his confirmation hearings. What the president wants is for everybody to remember Kavanaugh 30 days from now at the midterms.” CECILIA VEGA: “We’ve seen a full arc here from him saying that Christine Blasey Ford was credible to that stunning moment overnight where he declared Justice Kavanaugh innocent. That did not happen. The judge was not declared innocent. The president said outright yesterday this is going to help him. The fight for Kavanaugh will help republicans in the midterms this is a political line for him I do not think will go away any time over the next few weeks.” [Good Morning America, ABC, 10/8/18; VIDEO]

Want to Know More About: Deputy Attorney General Rod RosenStein

Jonathan Karl: “Rosenstein Came To The White House Expecting To Be Fired Today, So It Is Anybody’s Guess Whether Or Not The President Will Fire Him On Thursday. He Is Certainly Not Ruling It Out.” DAVID MUIR: “Obviously, the big question tonight, will President Trump fire Rosenstein on Thursday. And if he does, who then oversees the Russia investigation, does it put the investigation at risk?” Karl: “Well, Rosenstein came to The White House expecting to be fired today, so it is anybody’s guess whether or not the president will fire him on Thursday. He is certainly not ruling it out. If Rosenstein goes, the number three official at the justice department, that is Noel Francisco, the solicitor general, would oversee the Russia investigation until a Rosenstein replacement is put in place. Now David, the president’s legal team is saying that if Rosenstein goes, the Russia investigation should be put on pause, but there is absolutely no indication that will, in fact, happen.” [World News Tonight, ABC, 9/24/18; VIDEO]

Jonathan Karl: “ABC News Has Learned That Rosenstein Offered To Resign Over The Weekend, But Couldn’t Agree With The White House On The Conditions And Circumstances Of His Resignation.” KARL: “ABC News has learned that Rosenstein offered to resign over the weekend, but couldn’t agree with The White House on the conditions and circumstances of his resignation. If he does end up going, the Russia investigation will be overseen by the number three official at the justice department, that is Noel Francisco, the solicitor general who would oversee that investigation until a replacement for Rosenstein is put in place.” [Good Morning America, ABC, 9/25/18; VIDEO]

John Berman: “You Will Have Congress Holding A Hearing On The Supreme Court Where The President Is Talking About Using His Power To Fire Someone Investigating Him. Three Branches At Once In Turmoil.” JOHN BERMAN: “On Thursday when this happens this will quite literally be all three branches of American government in turmoil at once. You will have congress holding a hearing on the supreme court where the president is talking about using his power to fire someone investigating him. Three branches at once in turmoil.” [New Day, CNN, 9/25/18; Video] Continue reading “Want to Know More About: Deputy Attorney General Rod RosenStein”

Devin Nunes, in secretly recorded tape, tells donors GOP majority is necessary to protect Trump: ‘We’re the only ones’

The following article by Isaac Stanley-Becker was posted on the Washington Post website August 9, 2018:

The Fix’s Aaron Blake analyzes the key takeaways from a secret recording of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes. (JM Rieger/The Washington Post)

Republican Rep. Devin Nunes of California, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, appears to have moved from criticizing the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election to strategizing about how to blunt its impact should it imperil President Trump.

The most promising instrument in this effort, he suggested in unfiltered remarks last month, is retaining a GOP-controlled Congress.

Even if he had been speaking publicly, the eight-term Republican might not have chosen his words differently. This, after all, is the adamantly pro-Trump lawmaker who in February released a memorandum accusing the intelligence community of conspiring against the president. In May, Nunes sought documents from the Justice Department — as part of his investigation into the law enforcement officials leading the Russia inquiry — that senior intelligence officials maintained could expose a top source and endanger lives.

View the complete article here.

Meadows backs off impeaching Rosenstein after leadership talks

The following article by Olivia Beavers was posted on the Hill website July 26, 2018:

Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, left, leaves the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday after a meeting with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-WI). Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) says he is tabling his efforts to impeach Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein after having several meetings with Republican leadership, stating that he would instead pursue contempt if the Justice Department (DOJ) does not turn over documents Congress is seeking.

While the impeachment option remains on the table, Meadows told reporters Thursday he now hopes it will be a contempt process rather than impeachment.

When asked what will happen if he does not receive the documents two House committees are seeking by the time the House returns from August recess, Meadows said, “I think the very first order of business would be moving the House to a contempt vote.”

View the complete article here.

GOP lawmakers introduce articles of impeachment against Rosenstein

The following article by Olivia Beavers was posted on the Hill website July 25, 2018:

A group of conservative House lawmakers on Wednesday introduced articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the top Department of Justice (DOJ) official overseeing special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.

The introduction of the resolution is the latest sign of escalating efforts among conservatives to oust the DOJ’s No. 2 official.

Conservative members led by Reps. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), along with nine co-sponsors, introduced the five articles shortly after a meeting with DOJ officials concerning document production.

View the complete article here.

NOTE:  While the articles weren’t moved forward before the House recessed for the summer, the House members have said they plan to pursue it this fall.

Mueller probe indicts 12 Russians with hacking of Democrats in 2016

The following article by Devlin Barrett and Matt Zapotosky was posted on the Washington Post website July 13, 2018:

The special counsel’s indictment of 12 Russian military officers is a rebuke of President Trump’s many claims that the DNC hack and the Russia probe are a hoax. (Jenny Starrs /The Washington Post)

A dozen Russian military intelligence officers were indicted Friday on charges they hacked Democrats’ computers, stole their data and published those files to disrupt the 2016 election — the clearest connection to the Kremlin established so far by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of interference in the presidential campaign.

The indictment against members of the Russian military agency known as the GRU marks the first time Mueller has taken direct aim at the Russian government, accusing specific military units and their named officers of a sophisticated, sustained effort to hack the computer networks of Democratic organizations and the Hillary Clinton campaign.

Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein announced the charges at a midday news conference. Mueller, as has been his practice, did not attend the announcement. Court records show that a grand jury that Mueller has been using returned an indictment Friday morning.

View the complete article on the Washington Post website here.

Rod Rosenstein shuts down Jim Jordan over Fox News report

The following article by Aaron Blake was posted on the Washington Post website June 28, 2018:

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is the Republicans’ designated attack dog on the House Judiciary Committee. He’s the guy pushing conspiracy theories about the FBI and President Trump. And he’s the guy whose push for a second special counsel based on these theories earned a sharp rebuke from Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

On Thursday, Jordan again found himself getting shut down by one of the embattled leaders of the Justice Department — this time in somewhat embarrassing fashion. Continue reading “Rod Rosenstein shuts down Jim Jordan over Fox News report”

Justice Department Won’t Be Extorted, Rosenstein Warns Republicans

The following article by Katie Benner and Nicholas Fandos was posted on the New York Times website May 1, 2018:

Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, said at the Newseum on Tuesday that “there have been people who have been making threats, privately and publicly, against me for quite some time.”Credit: Michael Reynolds/EPA, via Shutterstock

WASHINGTON — After months of conceding to demands from a small group of House Republicans for more visibility into continuing investigations, the deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein, pushed back on Tuesday, declaring that the Justice Department “is not going to be extorted.”

His comment came the day after revelations that several of those Republicans, led by Representative Mark Meadows of North Carolina and other loyalists of President Trump, had drafted articles of impeachment to use against Mr. Rosenstein in case the long-simmering dispute with the deputy attorney general boiled over. Continue reading “Justice Department Won’t Be Extorted, Rosenstein Warns Republicans”