Tag: Rod Rosenstein

Sessions told White House that Rosenstein’s firing could prompt his departure, too

The following article by Sari Horwitz, Rosalind S. Helderman, Josh Dawsey and Matt Zapotosky was posted on the Washington Post website April 20, 2018:

Credit: Screengrab

Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently told the White House he might have to leave his job if President Trump fired his deputy, Rod J. Rosenstein, who oversees the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to people familiar with the exchange.

Sessions made his position known in a phone call to White House counsel Donald McGahn last weekend, as Trump’s fury at Rosenstein peaked after the deputy attorney general approved the FBI’s raid April 9 on the president’s personal attorney Michael Cohen. Continue reading “Sessions told White House that Rosenstein’s firing could prompt his departure, too”

Trump’s flimsy case for firing Rod Rosenstein

The following article by Amber Phillips was posted on the Washington Post website April 11, 2018:

In the short time since President Trump found out the FBI raided his private lawyer’s home and office, he sure seems to have been seriously considering firing someone involved.

One person directly in Trump’s line of fire is Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general at the Justice Department. Rosenstein is arguably more endangered than special counsel Robert S. Mueller III or Attorney General Jeff Sessions, for a few reasons: Continue reading “Trump’s flimsy case for firing Rod Rosenstein”

Lawmakers rally to defend Mueller after McCabe exit

The following article by Mallory Shelbourne was posted on the Hillwebsite March 18, 2018:

Lawmakers on Sunday rallied to the defense of special counsel Robert Mueller after concerns were raised over his job security following the abrupt firing of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced on Friday that he fired the FBI’s No. 2 official in a move that roiled Washington, D.C., and spurred a series of tweets from President Trump denouncing Mueller, McCabe and former FBI Director James Comey.

McCabe said his firing was an attempt to undermine the Mueller investigation into Russia’s election interference and possible collusion between members of Trump’s campaign and Moscow. The president targeted Mueller’s investigation in a series of tweets over the weekend, further alarming many lawmakers.

Democrats on Sunday were calling for proactive measures to protect Mueller and his investigation. Republicans insisted Trump has no intention of firing the special counsel, although the White House also acknowledged Trump is “frustrated.” Continue reading “Lawmakers rally to defend Mueller after McCabe exit”

Five key takeaways from the Russian indictments

The following article by Niall Stanage was posted on the Hill website February 17, 2018:

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

New indictments of 13 Russians who allegedly meddled in the 2016 election set the political world abuzz on Friday.

The charges were first posted on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) website but were fleshed out by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosensteinat a hastily convened news conference.

What are the key political ramifications from the new charges?

Fire and fury from Trump?

President Trump is hypersensitive to any suggestion that his victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016 was illegitimate. These new indictments are sure to get under his skin for precisely that reason. Continue reading “Five key takeaways from the Russian indictments”

No. 3 Official at the Justice Department Is Stepping Down

The following article by Katie Benner was posted on the New York Times website February 9, 2018:

Rachel Brand, the associate attorney general, was widely seen as the most likely successor to Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general overseeing the inquiry into Russian influence in the 2016 election. Credit Aaron P. Bernstein/Reuters

WASHINGTON — Rachel L. Brand, the No. 3 official at the Justice Department, plans to step down after nine months on the job as the country’s top law enforcement agency has been under attack by President Trump, according to two people briefed on her decision.

Ms. Brand’s profile had risen in part because she is next in the line of succession behind the deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein, who is overseeing the special counsel’s inquiry into Russian influence in the 2016 election. Mr. Trump, who has called the investigation a witch hunt, has considered firing Mr. Rosenstein.

Such a move could have put her in charge of the special counsel and, by extension, left her in the cross hairs of the president. Continue reading “No. 3 Official at the Justice Department Is Stepping Down”

Pressure builds on Trump to release Dem countermemo

The following article by Katie Bo Williams and Jordan Fabian was posted on the HillI website February 7, 2018:

Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

President Trump is under mounting pressure to allow the release of a Democratic rebuttal to a GOP memo that alleges bias in the FBI’s handling of the Russia investigation.

Trump has until Friday to block the publication of the 10-page document, which right now remains classified. The White House has played coy about whether Trump will allow it to become public.

The president met with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Tuesday to review the document and “discuss some of the differences” with the GOP document, according to White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Continue reading “Pressure builds on Trump to release Dem countermemo”

Gowdy: ‘I don’t’ think Rosenstein should be fired

The following article by Rebecca Morin was posted on the Politico website February 4, 2018:

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) said: “I think it is fair to ask the deputy attorney general, ‘What did you know at the time you signed one of the applications?'” Credit: AP Photo

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) said Sunday he doesn’t think Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein should be fired.

Rosenstein oversees special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe on whether Russia colluded with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

Gowdy, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said during an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that it concerns him that Trump’s confidence in Rosenstein is faltering. He added: “The president has not sought my counsel on this.” Continue reading “Gowdy: ‘I don’t’ think Rosenstein should be fired”

Panetta: Trump will do damage if he fires Rosenstein and Mueller

The following article by Rebecca Morin was posted on the Politico website February 4, 2018:

Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Former CIA Director Leon Panetta warned President Donald Trump on Sunday against firing special counsel Robert Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

“If he tries to go after them and tries to somehow appear to be obstructing the process that’s involved in this investigation; he’s going to hurt himself,” Panetta said on “Fox News Sunday.” “But more importantly, he’s going to hurt the country.”

Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Rosenstein, who is overseeing Mueller’s probe on whether Russia colluded with the president’s 2016 campaign. Continue reading “Panetta: Trump will do damage if he fires Rosenstein and Mueller”

Trump claims GOP memo ‘totally vindicates “Trump” in probe’

The following article by Jenna Johnson was posted on the Washington Post website February 3, 2018:

President Trump approved the release of a controversial and classified congressional memo on Feb. 2. Here are some of its main claims. (The Washington Post)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Trump said Saturday morning that a disputed four-page House Intelligence Committee memo that was composed by Republicans and released on Friday “totally vindicates ‘Trump’ ” in an FBI investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, including possible ties to his campaign.

“This memo totally vindicates ‘Trump’ in probe. But the Russian Witch Hunt goes on and on,” the president wrote in a tweet at 9:40 a.m. Saturday. “Their was no Collusion and there was no Obstruction (the word now used because, after one year of looking endlessly and finding NOTHING, collusion is dead). This is an American disgrace!” Continue reading “Trump claims GOP memo ‘totally vindicates “Trump” in probe’”

Why I am Leaving the FBI

The following commentary by Josh Campbell was posted on the New York Times website February 2, 2018:

An F.B.I. agent going door to door in Missouri. Credit Eric Thayer for The New York Times

One of the greatest honors of my life was walking across the stage at the F.B.I. Academy and receiving my special agent badge from the director at the time, Robert Mueller. After 21 weeks of intensive training, my class swore an oath and became federal agents entrusted with the solemn duty of protecting Americans and upholding the Constitution.

After more than a decade of service, which included investigating terrorism, working to rescue kidnapping victims overseas and being special assistant to the director, I am reluctantly turning in my badge and leaving an organization I love. Why? So I can join the growing chorus of people who believe that the relentless attacks on the bureau undermine not just America’s premier law enforcement agency but also the nation’s security. My resignation is painful, but the alternative of remaining quiet while the bureau is tarnished for political gain is impossible. Continue reading “Why I am Leaving the FBI”