Rosenstein meeting with House leaders postponed

House Leaders have recently been asked questions of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein just before the day before they have been interviewed by the President of the United States.

In a statement Tuesday evening, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, announced that the session was being put off. They did not give a new date and were vague about whether the session – demanded by House Republican conservatives – would take place before the midterm elections, now just two weeks away.

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"The Committee is unable to ask all questions of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein," The Goodlatte and Gowdy said in a statement. "Mr. Rosenstein has indicated his willingness to testify before the Judiciary and Oversight Committees in the coming weeks in a transcribed interview or a public setting. We appreciate his willingness to appear again and again.

A Justice Department official confirmed that House leaders had asked for a postponement, citing a desire to have a longer session. Wednesday's meeting was scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm.

For several weeks, Reps. Mark Meadows of North Carolina and Jim Jordan of Ohio have been demanding a chance to interview Rosenstein. They pointed to a New York Times report that Rosenstein proposed to a new record. It also suggests invoking the 25th Amendment, a Constitutional provision that can be used to suspend or remove a president from physical or mental problems.

Under the terms of the deal for the House interview, Meadows and Jordan would have been able to come to terms with the committee chairmen, both of whom are retiring from Congress at the end of the year.

Rosenstein and his allies insisted that his statements were made last year.

Nevertheless, The Times report triggered rumors and, in some circles, concerns that Trump would fire Rosenstein. Such a move might be politically explosive because the general secretary is overseeing special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, including potential collusion by Trump's campaign.

People close to Rosenstein, however, have suggested that the pressure be on it, at least for now.

Earlier this month, Rosenstein traveled on Air Force One with Trump to a law enforcement convention in Florida. Trump told reporters that the deputy attorney general had no plans. The president said the pair had "a very good talk," but he did not give details.