Posted on 07/26/2018 8:26:37 AM PDT by gattaca
Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano said Thursday that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's alleged ethical violations are not “impeachable offenses.”
“Improperly signing off on a [Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act] warrant, staying in a position of a conflict of interest — where you could be a witness in a case and you’re managing the case — those are good arguments for ethical violations but not impeachable offenses,” Napolitano said on Fox News's "Fox & Friends."
The former judge discussed the articles of impeachment introduced by a group of conservative House lawmakers late Wednesday against Rosenstein, the top Justice Department official overseeing special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), the head of the House Freedom Caucus, and 10 co-sponsors introduced five articles of impeachment shortly after meeting with Justice officials.
The lawmakers accuse Rosenstein of having a conflict of interest in Mueller’s investigation because he could be called as a “witness” in the ongoing probe into potential surveillance abuse against former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. Rosenstein signed off on the FBI surveillance renewal application to wiretap Page.
Napolitano said Thursday he often agrees with the small group of conservative lawmakers.
“On this, I profoundly disagree with them,” Napolitano added. “It doesn’t matter what I think. The Constitution says there’s a very, very narrow basis for impeachment and that’s intentional.”
“Treason — this is directly from the Constitution — bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors,” Napolitano added.
Democrats said on Wednesday that there is “no chance” that Rosenstein would be forcibly removed, calling the articles of impeachment “a direct attack on the special counsel’s investigation.”
"It is a panicked and dangerous attempt to undermine an ongoing criminal investigation in an effort to protect President Trump as the walls are closing in around him and his associates," said Reps. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Adam Schiff (Calif.), top Democrats on the House Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, and Intelligence committees, respectively, in a joint statement.
"It is certainly not, as its sponsors claim, a principled attempt to conduct oversight of the Department of Justice, because House Republicans have refused to conduct oversight of any aspect of the Trump Administration, except where the inquiry might distract from their failed agenda, undermine law enforcement, and serve the interests of President Trump," they added.
“Judge Nap is failing as he ages.”
He has his husband to care for him.
FOX BUSINESS has VARNEY, LOU DOBBS....MARIA, PAYNE!!
Impeaching Rosenstein isn’t the same thing as impeaching as a president.
Probably not. But ‘ethical violations’ can be grounds for termination. Hand this seditious bastid his pink slip.
Napolitano joins Jeff Sessions, who just gave a ringing endorsement of Rod Rosenstein and warns Congress to stop challenging corrupt activities at the DOJ!
Can you believe this?!
Fire this man NOW, Mr. President!!
Like Gowdy, this guy is all over the map.
There is no such category as “impeachable offense.” An impeachable offense is anything that Congress says is an impeachable offense.
Napolitano’s a chameleon, sometimes he seems to make sense and sometimes he’s full of shit. This is the latter of the two, although I’d prefer that the president: 1) Give Sessions and Rosenstein an order to provide the documents; 2) Declassify the documents; and 3) Fire both of their sorry asses.
I suspect that a first-year law student could make a pretty convincing argument for Rosenstein’s violation of his oath of office by failing to adhere to the Constitution (Article I and II powers) and by failing to “well and faithfully discharge the duties of his office.” Notwithstanding the fact that he supposedly failed to review the affidavit and validate the accuracy and validity of the “dossier”, both of the above are impeachable offenses.
Yes, perjury. Got someone else we know of impeached.
Conflict of interest is (and always has been) an impeachable offensive for people in the AG office. Andrew is channeling his inner Marie Harf.
If Rosenstein was part of the Trump administration, I’m sure Judge Obnoxious would be saying that they are “impeachable offenses”.
The brains have left the building...
Boy, somebody sure assigned the Judge a pair of deep state kneepads, didn’t they?
His job is to fire unethical or criminal people if he didn ‘t have the balls he should stand aside.
A person who "stays in the position of a conflict of interest" needs to be removed.
Judge Nap is a coward (or a dope) for not supporting this.
I thought that was just sex!
Think abut your post for a minute. He fires a guy who doesn’t respond to congress and then you think congress will impeach him for doing so. Which side of that case do you want to be on?
He has become another Faux News big time loser!
I pulled the plug on Faux News in 2016, when MeAgain planned to destroy Trump in the debate!
He failed a long time ago, the sleepy ones are just waking up to it.
Fox New’s Napolitano: Rosenstein’s alleged ethical violations are not ‘impeachable offenses’
Can’t stand that a-hole. Just another liar for hire as far as I am concerned.
Another one of those useless bastards that has changed a justice system into a legal game.
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