NeverTrumper Rod Rosenstein has threatened Rep Devin Nunes and other members of his committee. He told them that he would start subpoenaing their emails, phone records, and other documents unless they stopped their investigation immediately.
The House Intel Committee’s then-senior counsel for counterterrorism Kash Patel wrote to the Office of General Counsel to complain since what Rosenstein did is totally illegal and should subject him to prison.
Fox News Catherine Herridge reported:
The emails memorialized a January 2018 closed-door meeting involving senior FBI and Justice Department officials as well as members of the House Intelligence Committee. The account claimed Rosenstein threatened to turn the tables on the committee’s inquiries regarding the Russia probe.
“The DAG [Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein] criticized the Committee for sending our requests in writing and was further critical of the Committee’s request to have DOJ/FBI do the same when responding,” the committee’s then-senior counsel for counterterrorism Kash Patel wrote to the House Office of General Counsel. “Going so far as to say that if the Committee likes being litigators, then ‘we [DOJ] too [are] litigators, and we will subpoena your records and your emails,’ referring to HPSCI [House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence] and Congress overall.”
A second House committee staffer at the meeting backed up Patel’s account, writing: “Let me just add that watching the Deputy Attorney General launch a sustained personal attack against a congressional staffer in retaliation for vigorous oversight was astonishing and disheartening. … Also, having the nation’s #1 (for these matters) law enforcement officer threaten to ‘subpoena your calls and emails’ was downright chilling.”
The committee staffer noted that Rosenstein’s comment could be interpreted as meaning the department would “vigorously defend a contempt action” — which might be expected. But the staffer continued, “I also read it as a not-so-veiled threat to unleash the full prosecutorial power of the state against us.”
Of course, the DOJ denies it and had an anonymous witness swear that Rosenstein did no such thing. Personally, I trust someone like Patel who comes out in the open than I with the DOJ’s anonymous witness.
“A 2nd source has now confirmed to me that, in a meeting on January 10, Deputy A-G Rosenstein used the power of his office to threaten to subpoena the calls & texts of the Intel Committee to get it to stop it’s investigation of DOJ and FBI. Likely an Abuse of Power & Obstruction.”
A 2nd source has now confirmed to me that, in a meeting on January 10, Deputy A-G Rosenstein used the power of his office to threaten to subpoena the calls & texts of the Intel Committee to get it to stop it’s investigation of DOJ and FBI. Likely an Abuse of Power & Obstruction.
— Gregg Jarrett (@GreggJarrett) February 3, 2018
“It is a crime for a government official to use his office to threaten anyone, including a member of Congress, for exercising a constitutionally protected right. See 18 USC 242 and other similar abuse of power statutes.”
It is a crime for a government official to use his office to threaten anyone, including a member of Congress, for exercising a constitutionally protected right. See 18 USC 242 and other similar abuse of power statutes.
— Gregg Jarrett (@GreggJarrett) February 3, 2018
Then he posted an update regarding these texts: “On Feb. 3, I tweeted that Rod Rosenstein threatened to subpoena calls & texts of Intel Committee. Ryan Reilly of Huff Post called my reporting “dubious”. He was wrong. ”
On Feb. 3, I tweeted that Rod Rosenstein threatened to subpoena calls & texts of Intel Committee. Ryan Reilly of Huff Post called my reporting "dubious". He was wrong. See https://t.co/L7HkH3ESPU
— Gregg Jarrett (@GreggJarrett) June 12, 2018
Rosenstein has been stonewalling the Congress to protect the guilty. He needs to go.