Rosenstein and Mueller covering their butts?
Thread: Legal analysis on problems w/ Rosenstein’s purported “authorization” of #Mueller to investigate matters outside the time frame & subject matter of the 2016 campaign. Upshot: Rosenstein usurped Sessions’s power & gave secret authorization to Mueller to witch-hunt Manafort.
Problem 1: Rosenstein was “acting attorney general” only on matters Sessions had recused himself. Sessions only recused himself from DOJ investigations of 2016 campaign. Yet, Rosenstein claimed to authorize Mueller to investigate matters dating back to 2006 & ending before 2016.
Problem 2: Rosenstein’s original authorization of Mueller extended only to matters of “Russia government collusion” in 2016 campaign, not to internal Ukranian politics from 2006 & ended years before 2016 campaign. A special counsel cannot be continually used as a substitute AG.
Problem 3: Rosenstein does not have authorization over tax crimes. Only the Assistant Attorney General in charge of Tax Division can authorize indictments of tax crimes. Rosenstein could not authorize Mueller to look at tax crimes when Rosenstein himself never had that authority.
Problem 4: Rosenstein’s letter tells Mueller only to look to Rosenstein for clarification of Mueller’s authorization. Rosenstein is not the Attorney General of the United States, and could not monopolize supervision of Mueller for matters that did not relate to Sessions’ recusal.
Problem 5: #Rosenstein issuing his expanded #Mueller authorization in secret creates a secret Inquisitor, unelected & un-appointed by elected officials, with all the powers of the federal criminal law enforcement, but none of the democratic checks and balances. Unconstitutional!
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