Deputy Attorney General: Special counsel Mueller needs permission to expand Russia investigation

Business Insider ^ | 8/6/17 | Maxwell Tani & Natasha Bertrand

[Lockbox]

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said on Sunday that the special counsel investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 election needs permission from the Department of Justice to expand his investigation if he finds evidence of an unrelated crime.

In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russia's role in the 2016 campaign and President Donald Trump's campaign's potential ties to Russia was "not a fishing expedition."

"If he finds evidence of a crime that is within the scope of what Director Mueller and I have agreed is the appropriate scope of this investigation, then he can," Rosenstein said. "If it's something outside that scope he needs to come to the acting attorney general, at this time me, for permission to expand his investigation."

[TigersEye]

If Jeanine Pirro were to be named AG or Deputy AG so many people in DC would crap their pants at the same time the concussion would circle the world like Krakatoa in 1883.

[FreeReign]

At this point AG Sessions should step in and say NO! You finish the Russian collusion investigation with no further investigation then if nothing is found that investigation if done and over with. Then AG Session is back in the loop and then he and only he can decide if further action or investigation is warranted. This is not for some government twit to decide. AG Sessions is the Appointed AG not the twit in charge right now.

What you describe would be the appropriate course of action for Sessions. But I can't see Session taking that action. And the Sessions apologists will continue to look the other way.

[Alberta's Child]

Sometimes I read posts on here and shake my head.

Media outlets like the NYT, Washington Post and CNN have spent months demonstrating to the world that they really are fake news ...

... but then the moment one of them posts a story about "leaks" about the investigation, so many people here on FR accept it as the gospel truth? LOL.

Please cite me one "leak" that amounts to a verifiable piece of evidence about Mueller's investigation ... and by this I mean an article from any media source that either: (1) names a source, or (2) names a person who is allegedly a target of the investigation and then posts a quote from that person confirming that he/she has been questioned, received a grand jury subpoena, etc.

Good luck with that. You're chasing smoke and mirrors, dude. Ten bucks says the "leaks" are nothing more than fabricated stories put out there by Democrat operatives for the sole purpose of baiting President Trump into doing something stupid like firing Mueller.

[LeoTDB69]

“he needs to come to the acting attorney general, at this time me, for permission to expand his investigation.”

I can’t read the article website but I wonder if they asked Rosey if he had been asked to expand the scope at this time?

Still, my gut tells me Muler is gonna do what he wants, inbounds or out and leak any info he can to discredit Trump. All he needs do is get info out there, whether he can bring charges or not. Smear the target!

[Alberta's Child]

Huh?

That quote is an exact description of the roles and limitations of a special counsel under Federal law.

That makes Rosenstein corrupt?

[Hawthorn]

>> Expand it from Russia to what? <<

Somthing like Gen. Flynn’s taking money from Turkey and not reporting it properly.

Also, any of Manafort’s dealings with possibly corrupt Ukranian politicians and oligarchs.

So just as Ken Starr asked the AG to expand his investigation from Whitewater to Monica Lewinsky, it’s conceivable that Mueller might ask to expand his investigation into Flynn’s and Manafort’s pre-campaign and/or non-campaign activities.

But would Rodney R. give permission?

In view of today’s political climate, I suspect not — but rather that he’d pass the matter(s) over to regular lawyers in the Criminal Division.

(The latter action would seem to me like an easy decision for Rod.)

[Alberta's Child]

Rosenstein was one of 46 U.S. Attorneys who submitted their resignations back in early March at the direction of AG Sessions.

President Trump refused to accept his resignation.

Four months later, Trump is telling the New York Times in his infamous "Sessions betrayed me" interview that he doesn't even know who Rod Rosenstein is. He appointed him to the Deputy AG post. LMAO.

[TigersEye]

I hope your faith in him is justified.

[Paladin2]

I would submit that anything RosenKrantz tells the media without express permission from his chain of command about his colluder Mueller’s operation is a “leak”.

Largely for propaganda purposes.

The guy is a classic DC Hack.

If the DoJ has nothing, they should shutup or kill the “investigation”.

[Alberta's Child]

I would submit that anything RosenKrantz tells the media without express permission from his chain of command about his colluder Mueller’s operation is a "leak."

Very nice.

You can't provide one bit of evidence that I've requested, so you just define "leak" as you see fit and then claim that Rosenstein is leaking all the live long day ... except maybe when he actually IS leaking -- i.e., standing at a urinal or toilet.

[Paladin2]

Sounds like you are leaking....

[FreeReign]

That quote is an exact description of the roles and limitations of a special counsel under Federal law.

Huh??

Rosenstein:

"If he(Mueller) finds evidence of a crime that is within the scope of what Director Mueller and I have agreed is the appropriate scope of this investigation, then he can, if it's something outside that scope he needs to come to the acting attorney general, at this time me, for permission to expand his investigation."

How does Mueller "find something outside the scope of the investigation" without already expanding the scope of the investigation??

Rosenstein is saying look for anything that you want, and if you find something, then we will (after the fact) expand the scope.

[Alberta's Child]

P.S. -- I suspect most of the statements Rosenstein makes to the media about the Mueller investigation are: (1) given perfectly within the confines of the law, and (2) are aimed partly at giving information to the Trump team without compromising the legal integrity of the investigation.

See the infamous June 15, 2017 press release -- one of the oddest things you'll ever see from the U.S. Department of Justice -- as a perfect example of this.

[Hawthorn]

>> Rosenstein is playing this straight as an arrow <<

Sorry, but you should not be suggesting such. If you can’t say something bad about the guy, then you should not say anything at all.

>> we may be in for a big surprise (in a good way) <<

I gotta think we don’t need that kinda news, because probably we wanna keep complaining about good ole Rosencrantz and Muellerstern. It’s fun!

[Paladin2]

“In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russia’s role in the 2016 campaign and President Donald Trump’s campaign’s potential ties to Russia was “not a fishing expedition.” “

Clearly a leak. Opinion without ANY substantiation. Given to the Media. Propaganda at its finest.

[Alberta's Child]

How does Mueller "find something outside the scope of the investigation" without already expanding the scope of the investigation?

A prosecutor applies for a warrant to search Joe Blow's house for narcotics. A pile of evidence is handed to the judge to support the application. The search warrant is granted.

Detective Smedley and his team go to search Joe Blow's house. During the course of their search they find evidence of child pornography all over the place ... but legally they can't seize it because child porn isn't listed on the search warrant among the items they're looking for.

So the prosecutor goes back to the judge and applies for an amended warrant to expand the original warrant to include evidence of additional crimes that was found while legally searching for evidence of the original crime.

This kind of thing happens all the time in law enforcement.

[Alberta's Child]

Actually, I just did.

I have to run out to the pharmacy for some allergy medication, though. Will be back in a bit. LOL.

[Paladin2]

If RosenKrantz has “Good News!”, why not deliver it now?

[FreeReign]

Trump is telling the New York Times in his infamous "Sessions betrayed me" interview that he doesn't even know who Rod Rosenstein is. He appointed him to the Deputy AG post. LMAO.

You take Trump way out of context.

[timestax]