Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee used a hearing on the DOJ's Office of the Inspector General report on Hillary Clinton's email investigation to relentlessly attack Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who is overseeing the Russia probe.
The tense congressional hearing came as Republicans brought to the House floor a non-binding resolution that scolded the Justice Department for not turning over more records, a move that is widely seen as a possible precursor to holding Rosenstein in contempt of Congress. The resolution passed along party lines, 226-183.
Rosenstein, the No. 2 official at the Justice Department, has become a frequent punching bag for Trump supporters for appointing Special Counsel Robert Mueller to investigate whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia in his campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Both Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray reassured the committee they continue to do everything they can to comply with lawmakers ongoing requests for materials related to the Russia investigation, but Republicans refused to listen.
During a hostile exchange with Representative Jim Jordan, one of Trump’s major backers, Rosenstein accused him of a personal attack.
“I am the deputy attorney general of the United States,” he said. “... I’m responsible for responding to your concerns as I have. I have a team with me, sir. It’s just a fraction of the team doing this work.
“So your statement that I’m personally keeping information from you, trying to conceal information ...”
“You’re the boss, Mr. Rosenstein,” Jordan interrupted.
“That’s correct,” Rosenstein snapped back. “And my job is to make sure that we respond to your concerns. We have, sir.”
Jordan later tried to assure the deputy attorney general his criticism wasn’t personal, to which Rosenstein responded, “Sometimes it feels that way.”
Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC), who held two-and-a-half years of investigations into Benghazi that ultimately yielded nothing, used his time to demand Rosenstein end the Russia probe.
“If you have evidence of any wrongdoing by any member of the Trump campaign, present it to the damn grand jury,” he said. “If you have evidence that this president acted inappropriately, present it to the American people ... Whatever you got, finish it the hell up.”
CNBC:
Rosenstein, who oversees the special counsel's probe, responded that he has "heard suggestions that we should just close the investigation. I think the best thing we can do is finish it appropriately and reach a conclusion."
The Mueller investigation already has led to charges against Trump’s former campaign chairman, his former national security adviser and several other people. Trump has denied any collusion with Russia and repeatedly called the investigation a witch hunt.
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Representative Matt Gaetz, another Trump ally, had a tense exchange with Rosenstein, alleging Rosenstein had signed a document to authorize “spying” on the Trump campaign.
“I dispute your characterization about what that (surveillance warrant application) is about, sir,” Rosenstein said. “If the inspector general finds that I did something wrong, then I will respect that judgment but I think it’s highly, highly unlikely, sir.”
Watch Jim Jordan's heated exchange with Rod Rosenstein
House Republicans shout down Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein in tense hearing (Reuters)