Posted on 10/17/2018 3:29:35 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Wednesday defended special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation as "appropriate and independent" as President Trump continues to attack the probe as a "witch hunt."
Rosenstein made the remarks during an interview with the Wall Street Journal, just weeks after reports emerged that he was going to leave his post at the Justice Department. He ultimately stayed.
Mueller told the Journal that Mueller's probe has already revealed wide-ranging efforts by Russia to sow discord and meddle in the 2016 presidential election.
I committed I would ensure the investigation was appropriate and independent and reached the right result, whatever it may be, Rosenstein said. I believe I have been faithful to that.
The president and GOP lawmakers have continued to escalate attacks on the probe, accusing investigators of bias against Trump.
People are entitled to be frustrated, I can accept that, Rosenstein told the Journal. But at the end of the day, the public will have confidence that the cases we brought were warranted by the evidence and that it was an appropriate use of resources.
I have a solemn responsibility to make sure that cases like that are pursued and prosecuted, and Im pleased the president has been supportive of that, he added.
Rosenstein during the interview declined to discuss the reports that he was either planning to resign from his position at the Justice Department or Trump was planning to fire him.
"The president knows that I am prepared to do this job as long as he wants me to do this job," he said. "You serve at the pleasure of the president, and theres never been any ambiguity about that in my mind."
The deputy attorney general rarely sits down for interviews, even as the president has publicly attacked him and his role in Mueller's investigation.
He would not say when the probe is likely to be completed, the Journal reported.
Multiple GOP lawmakers have threatened to subpoena Rosenstein over a New York Times report that he once considered wearing a wire to record President Trump.
Rosenstein and the Justice Department have fiercely disputed the Times report, claiming the comments were made in jest.
Mueller is reportedly expected to present findings related to key aspects of his investigation after this November's midterm elections, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.
Your argument is a complete non sequitur. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the Rod Rosenstein problem. That my friend is obtuse. Get back on topic.
We’re not talking about Trunmp’s accomplishments, which by any measure are extraordinary and unprecedented. The issue here is one of Trump’s inability to control the DOJ in general, and Rod Rosenstein in particular as well as his defied order to immediately release the FISA docs.
Its a well known problem for him. Most of his supporters will admit that.
He needs to be in jail along with his criminal cohorts
he cases we brought were warranted by the evidence and that it was an appropriate
Yeah indicting 26 Russians they knew damn well would never be in court just to make thing look legit right.
I want this evil little prick to burn.
Trump seems to like Rosenweasel. In fact, he said he has a very good relationship with Rod and that Ive gotten to know him and I get along very well with him. This about a guy who plotted a coup against him and refuses to cooperate with the United States Congress.
Trump even let Rod persuade him not to release the FISA docs which have been dumped onto Horowitz, who will never release them before the election.
I get your points and they are reasonable explanations.
I think there was an unfortunate miscalculation. Trump initially wanted to release the FISA docs but was clearly talked out of it by Rosenstein for his own reasons, and by our “allies” based on their concerns about exposure of their illegal activities and meddling in our elections. Trump subsequently backed off on his order, thereby having his credibility and authority placed at risk. So I don’t think he was thinking then of any grand plan, at least not when he ordered the “immediate declassification”.
Sadly, this thing has become problematic. Many of Trump’s most ardent supporters are pleading with him to release the FISA docs. You may be right in your theory, but with Horowitz now involved there’s no telling what will happen. Its gotten to be a real mess.
That’s how it reads to me too. Rosenstein’s got nothing. The Mueller report is going to be a big fizzle. Trump is now totally confident of this, which changes the logic. He can now safely let the witch hunt play out undisturbed to its pathetic balloon whistle conclusion. No reason to fire anyone just this minute. In fact he can even put on a public display of chumminess with Rosenstein, which is probably not a bad look heading into the midterms.
“I believe this, like in poker, is a tell...
This tells me he has nothing beyond what they have already prosecuted. Now he is moving to the phase of justifying what they have done..”
Excellent read.
Another Deep State apologist heard from.
I sit here typing knowing that Rosenstein will get his comeuppance at the time of POTUS’ choosing.
After months of thinking on this, I think I understand what is going on.
I suspect starting Jan 1 things are going to break loose.
I’m not sure what is going happen to Rosenstein but IMHO, he needs to be fired assuming another Swamp Creature is not waiting in the wings.
And, there seems to be the problem. Mueller is not an independent prosecutor. He is a special counsel subject to review by the AG. He is supposed to be tasked to investigate a crime (he wasn't). He was tasked with continuing an investigation with no particular crime to investigate and no restraint from RR.
Im still trying to reconcile the supposed evolution of Sessions from the silent executioner prosecuter in Alabama, through being the first member of Congress to support Trump, to being an asleep swamp creature.
Im still holding out hope that he is still the silent executioner, and none of us - especially in this volatile atmosphere of never-ending investigations and Trump attacks - really knows what is going on.
Im still in the Sessions camp - for now.
After months of thinking on this, I think I understand what is going on. I suspect starting Jan 1 things are going to break loose.
****************
I have thought about this a lot as well and have my own theory as to what’s going on. I think Sessions will be gone soon after the election, regardless of the outcome. He will suddenly “retire”. Let’s hope Trump is able to get a bulldog to replace him.
Rosenstein on the other hand is a bigger and more complicated problem for Trump. He could release the FISA docs and have immediate justification for getting rid of Rosenstein. But notice Trump’s reluctance to do that. As I’ve said before, in the face of overwhelming evidence to justify firing him, Rosenstein is — amazingly — still in his job. The only logical explanation is that he must be holding some “good” cards.
The only thing that makes sense to me is that Sessions is a Deep State plant. Nobody could possibly be as passive and detached from his job as Sessions is unless it was by design. He has let the agency he heads to be totally disgraced. What manager would permit that to happen on his watch? Moreover, Sessions has made no effort whatsoever to protect Trump in any way. In fact, he has been content to let Rod Rosenstein, the defacto AG, run the department into the ground.
The only logical explanation of Sessions’ refusal to do his job and at the same time betray his boss is that he has been a plant from day one. If you accept that premise then its easy to understand his duplicity.
There is no secret plan between Trump and Sessions. Only betrayal.
If the same kind of witch hunt is done on the next dem President (may it be never) then it can be considered appropriate.
I gave you the facts on the ground. This is a mexican standoff between the whole of our corrupt stasi state and President Trump.
When he makes a move against the corrupt state, he will be putting his Presidency and the fate of the nation ‘in the pot’(at risk) on that single move. ALL IN. He knows that, I know that. Why you don’t know that is anyone’s guess. Like I said, deliberately obtuse, an agenda or a sleeper cruzhole.
Sorry, I dont accept that premise. Not yet, anyway.
Like I said, deliberately obtuse, an agenda or a sleeper cruzhole.
**************
Back to name calling again? The pathetic refuge of someone who can’t deal with honest debate.
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