A group of House Republicans have introduced a resolution to impeach Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein concerning his oversight of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference and possible collusion with the Trump campaign in the 2016 presidential election.
Representatives Mark Meadows of North Carolina and Jim Jordan of Ohio introduced articles of impeachment against Rosenstein, a resolution co-sponsored by nine other Republicans, which accused Rosenstein of "high crimes and misdemeanors." Meadows is chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, whose members are among the most conservative House Republicans.
Specifically, they accused Rosenstein of having a conflict of interest relating to the authorization of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant on Carter Page, a former adviser to Donald Trump; violating a congressional subpoena and ignoring information requests; and excessive redaction of documents presented.
The group needs a majority in the House of Representatives and two-thirds support in the Senate to secure impeachment. There is presently little to no chance the resolution will go anywhere, as the signatories lack meaningful support in Congress. The Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment.
"The resolution to impeach Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein is the newest in a long series of Republican attempts to undermine, discredit and disrupt the Mueller investigation," said Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois and a member of the Oversight Committee, in a statement, "even as the special counsel and his team have filed 30 indictments and secured five guilty pleas from a group including four Trump campaign officials and members of Vladimir Putin's military intelligence force."
Krishnamoorthi continued, "If they're actually serious, the House leadership should bring this resolution to a vote immediately. It's a total media stunt to file articles of impeachment at seven in the evening immediately before Congress leaves for a five-week recess. If Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein's actions are so egregious, how can House Republicans possibly justify letting him stay in his job for another five weeks?"
A statement released through the offices of Meadows and Jordan listed eight Republican representatives who co-sponsored the articles of impeachment, although Meadows and Jordan claim 11 supporters. It is not immediately clear who the other three are. Newsweek will update this story as their names become known.
Here are names of the eight we know about, and their comments explaining their support of the impeachment resolution against Rosenstein.
Representative Mark Meadows (Republican, North Carolina)
"With Attorney General Sessions's recusal, Rod Rosenstein has been in charge of the Department of Justice as the agency has made every effort to obstruct legitimate attempts of congressional oversight. The stonewalling over this last year has been just as bad or worse than under the Obama administration.
"Multiple times we've caught DOJ officials hiding information from Congress, withholding relevant documents, or even outright ignoring congressional subpoenas—and now we have evidence that Mr. Rosenstein signed off on a document using unverified political opposition research as a cornerstone of a FISA application to spy on an American citizen working for the Trump campaign.
"This level of conduct, paired with the failure to even feign an interest in transparency, is reprehensible. And whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, this kind of obstruction is wrong—period.
"For nine months we've warned them consequences were coming, and for nine months we've heard the same excuses backed up by the same unacceptable conduct. Time is up and the consequences are here. It's time to find a new deputy attorney general who is serious about accountability and transparency."
Representative Jim Jordan (Republican Ohio)
"The DOJ is keeping information from Congress. Enough is enough. It's time to hold Mr. Rosenstein accountable for blocking Congress's constitutional oversight role."
Representative Andy Biggs (Republican Arizona)
"Congress gave Mr. Rosenstein plenty of time to comply with our requests. We have been reasonable and up-front with him. Unfortunately, at almost every opportunity, Mr. Rosenstein has resisted and defied Congress's constitutional oversight. His time to obstruct our investigations has expired. Mr. Rosenstein's Department is subject to constitutional checks and balances. I call on my colleagues to assert our constitutional responsibility and approve these articles of impeachment."
Representative Scott Perry (Republican, Pennsylvania)
"The Department of Justice continues to thwart and/or impede the oversight authority of the Congress. We must ensure transparency, and stop unelected bureaucrats from avoiding accountability to the American People."
Representative Paul A. Gosar, (Republican, Arizona)
"It's time to stop letting unelected bureaucrats rule over the people's house. Rod Rosenstein has repeatedly failed to deliver requested documents, ignored subpoenas and ultimately stonewalled Congress. His obstruction and reckless actions have completely undermined the American people. In order to restore the power to the people, we must impeach Rod Rosenstein. I will continue to fight to shine a light on the facts and ensure power is restored to the American people."
Representative Jody Hice (Republican, Georgia)
"I have tremendous respect for the men and women of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, many of whom put their lives on the line every day in service to our country. Unfortunately, for too long, there has been a culture of stonewalling and misdirection that has permeated the highest levels of these organizations, most especially under the failed leadership of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and former FBI Director James Comey.
"It is the duty of America's law enforcement agencies to rise above the fray, and it is our duty in Congress to root out corruption in our government when it presents itself. While we have acted in good faith and given DAG Rosenstein every opportunity to comply with congressional requests, he has evaded our attempts to conduct oversight time and time again. Now, the only recourse we have left in order to fulfill our vested duty is to hold Rod Rosenstein accountable– before the American people lose all trust and confidence in these agencies."
Representative Matt Gaetz (Repubican, Florida)
"Rod Rosenstein and the Department of Justice have repeatedly ignored congressional requests and subpoenas, showing a complete disregard for congressional oversight authority. In his capacity as Deputy AG, Mr. Rosenstein oversaw and approved of the likely improper FISA warrant on Carter Page and subsequent surveillance of President Trump's team. His leadership has weakened Americans' faith in the intelligence community and in seeing justice served; he should be removed immediately."
Representative Scott DesJarlais (Republican, Tennessee)
"Given many opportunities to cooperate with Congress, Rod Rosenstein has demonstrated a chronic inability to answer questions important to our investigation of alleged criminal abuses of intelligence services under the previous administration. Even under subpoena, the deputy attorney general has refused to produce necessary documents, because they implicate top Department of Justice and FBI officials, including himself. His own role in fraudulent warrants and wiretapping the president's campaign is a major conflict of interest that renders him unfit to oversee the special counsel or DOJ. Removing Mr. Rosenstein from office is the only option left to Congress."
This article was updated to include a statement by Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi.
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