Yup, while trying to lecture Rep. Gohmert on "the process."
Gohmert: "You approved the [FISA] filing . . ."
Rosenstein: "That's my job. That's my job."
G: "OK, you approved it. When you approve a FISA application, in your mind does that mean you should read it and understand what's part of it?"
R: "You should certainly understand what's part of it, sir . . "
G: "But that's . . you're parsing words . . .That doesn't mean you need to read it, in your opinion. Is that correct?"
R: "It depends on the circumstances, sir and ah, [smiles]"
G: "Well tell me then, being a former felony state judge . . ."
R: "yes"
G: "If I had somebody like you come before me . . ."
R: "I'm not the one [inaudible or before the judge], sir."
G: "The guy that signed and approved an application for a warrant had not . . ."
R: "I don't think . . . "
G: "even read the application that would allow spying on someone"
R: "That would be atrocious"
G: "I would look at everything he signed from then on with a jaundiced eye and I'm telling you I was a little bit concerned . . ."
R: "Will you even give a chance to explain, sir."
G: "Well, you have. You said . . ."
R: "No I have not!"
G: "approved it."
R: "I did approve it."
G: "I didn't ask that question, because you've said you approve it, but you took out the words . . ."
Goodlatte: "The gentleman's will . ."
G: "That you read it."
Goodlatte: "The gentleman will suspend. I just want to make it clear that you will be afforded the full opportunity to respond once his time is expired."
G: "My time continued to run while the chairman took up some of my time."
Goodlatte:"You'll have that, too."
G: "And actually, I didn't have a question, I was taking the words that the Deputy Attorney General himself said. Let me ask you about this . . .
---snip---
R: "I completely understand your concern, and this FISA process is being reviewed by the Inspector General. If he finds some problem with it I'll respect that. Now, we don't talk about FISAs. It's illegal for us to talk about FISAs. And this particular example is the result the intelligence committee--certain information was declassified--so I'm comfortable talking about that. You have to understand in context, sir, that the department had made the decision to disclose the existence of a FISA to the House and Senate before I got there. Before I got there. What I signed was what is called a renewal application. It had already been approved three different times by a federal judge, it was signed under oath by an FBI agent who attested it was true and correct. Now if he was wrong, we'll hold him accountable. But let's allow the process to conclude before we jump to conclusions about that, because I assure you, sir, I'll be just as offended as you, if I find there was some incorrect information in that application.