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Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein appeared Thursday with Republican lawmakers who accused him of misconduct and obstruction – claims that he angrily denied – in an ongoing quarrel over FBI investigations on Hillary Clinton and President Trump. At a hearing of the Judiciary Chamber Committee were interrupted by a vote in the House on a resolution supposedly publicly reprimanding Rosenstein on what lawmakers characterize as his inability to hand over investigative documents related to both cases . The measure, which goes from 226 to 183, asks the Ministry of Justice to "comply with requests including assignments" before July 6.
Thursday's hearing with Rosenstein and FBI director Christopher A. Wray She found serious flaws in the way federal law enforcement conducted a far-reaching investigation into the law. Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. But it was mostly centered on Rosenstein's and Republican's accusations that he had concealed key details about politically sensitive investigations.
[Inspector general blasts Comey and says others at FBI showed ‘willingness to take official action’ to hurt Trump]
Rosenstein emphasized to the committee that the department "has hundreds of people working around the clock to respond to this demand." And that the vote requesting that documents be produced more quickly would not affect this. job.
Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Mark Meadows (RN.C.), authors of the House resolution, have suggested that if Rosenstein does not respond to their requests in a timely manner, they will pursue the charges of contempt. against itself if GOP The leaders have not shown the willingness to take such punitive measures at a time when the Justice Department is trying to produce the documents.
At the hearing, Jordan charged Rosenstein with charges and asked, "Why do you keep Congress information?
Rosenstein denied doing so.
"I do not agree with you, Congressman," he said. "This is not accurate, sir."
Jordan also accused the Deputy Attorney General of having redacted documents to conceal embarrassing information to the FBI
. Jordan, I'm the Deputy Attorney General of the United States, "replied Rosenstein. "I'm not the person doing the writing."
As Jordan interrupted Rosenstein to launch other charges, Rosenstein replied, "Your use of this to attack me personally is deeply flawed … I'm not trying to hide anything. "
Jordan replied," This is not personal, "as both went on to argue and the Democrats on the panel attempted to intervene in Rosenstein's defense. Trey Gowdy (RS.C.) delivered a lengthy monologue on anti-Trump text messages exchanged by some FBI officials, then pleaded with Rosenstein to conclude the Russian investigation quickly.
"We have seen the bias – we have to see the evidence," said Gowdy. "If you have evidence of wrongdoing from a member of the Trump campaign, bring it to the grand jury." If you have evidence that this president acted inappropriately, present it to him. to the American people, there is an old saying that justice delayed is justice denied.I think we are all denied right now.Whatever you have, finish it, because this country is torn apart. "
Rosenstein replied that he shared Gowdy's concerns, but added: "Regarding the survey, I've heard suggestions that we should close the investigation.I think the best thing that we can do is finish it appropriately and come to a conclusion. "
Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) Asked Rosenstein to explain why he had not objected to Robert S. Mueller III's special advice, given that Rosenstein wrote a note justifying James B's dismissal. Comey as director of the FBI last year.
"I can assure you that if it suited me to challenge, I would be more than happy to do it and let someone else take care of that, "said Rosenstein smiling
. Republicans pressed Rosenstein to explain his role in different parts of the investigation on Russia, but the Deputy Attorney General said he could not talk about classified information. Since Attorney General Jeff Sessions has challenged investigations related to the 2016 campaign, Rosenstein is the acting Attorney General of the Russian probe
The hearing is the first time that Rosenstein publicly answers questions Lawmakers on Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz's report, which castigated Comey and found that senior office officials assigned both to Clinton's e-mail and to the investigation of electoral interference of Russia had shown a "willingness to take official measures" to prevent Trump from becoming president.
Republicans and Democrats of the House Judiciary Committee argued over Horowitz's findings, with Republicans suggesting that anti-Trump sentiment at the FBI had deeper consequences than the Inspector General's. recognised. Democrats point out his finding that the bias did not ultimately affect the prosecutors' decision not to accuse Clinton of a crime.
Horowitz appeared alone at a hearing before the committee last week.
[Justice Dept. watchdog says probes ongoing into disclosure of Comey memos, FBI leaks]
Wray swore to always discipline the FBI whose conduct interrogated the Inspector General, and already, the office took action in favor of shooting agent Peter Strzok, who once led Clinton's e-mail and Russian polls. The Inspector General found anti-Trump text messages between Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page, including one in which Strzok said "we'll stop" that Trump becomes president. The inspector general concluded that the messages implied that officials had a "willingness to take official action" to undermine the chances of becoming Trump's president.
Strzok's lawyer disputes this finding and argues that Strzok's actions serve only to hurt Clinton and Trump. Strzok testified privately for several hours before the Judiciary Committee of the House on Wednesday.
Karoun Demirjian contributed to this report.
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