Rosenstein fires back at critics over Mueller report
Philip Bump, Devlin Barrett
2 hrs ago
© Jonathan Ernst/Reuters Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein (right)
stands by as Attorney General William Barr addresses a news conference to
discuss special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's report on Russian
interference in the 2016 election on April 18, 2019.
NEW YORK Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein hit back hard against
politicians and the press Thursday night, and warned that hacking and social
media manipulation are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to
Russian efforts to influence American elections.
Speaking at the Public Servants Dinner of the Armenian Bar Association,
Rosenstein unleashed his sharpest critique yet of those who have attacked
his handling of special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigative report
into Russian election interference and President Trumps conduct.
Rosensteins speech, probably one of his last as a senior Justice Department
official, marked his first public comments since the release of the report,
and he did not hold back in discussing his tumultuous two years as the No. 2
at the Justice Department. During that time, he was castigated by both
Republicans and Democrats for a variety of decisions. In the speech,
Rosenstein reflected on his time on the job, spoke positively of Trumps
commitment to the rule of law and criticized the press.
He also said that, even after the Mueller report documented Russian
interference in the 2016 election, that is only a small part of the story.
The bottom line is, there was overwhelming evidence that Russian operatives
hacked American computers and defrauded American citizens, and that is only
the tip of the iceberg of a comprehensive Russian strategy to influence
elections, promote social discord, and undermine America, just like they do
in many other countries, Rosenstein said.
Rosenstein appointed Mueller as special counsel in May 2017, and has
overseen the investigation since. Now that Muellers work is over and Trump
has nominated someone else to be the No. 2 official at the Justice
Department, Rostenstein is expected to leave the job as early as next month.
In his speech, Rosenstein critiqued Congress, politics and the media, and
defended the Justice Department as an institution whose mission is to rise
above partisanship and focus on facts.
I do not care how police officers, prosecutors and judges vote, just as I
do not care how soldiers and sailors vote. That is none of my business. I
only care whether they understand that when they are on duty, their job is
about law and not politics, said Rosenstein, who has worked at the Justice
Department for decades.
There is not Republican justice and Democrat justice. There is only justice
and injustice, he said.
In his speeches, Rosenstein often refers positively to Trump, and he did so
again on Thursday, a week after the Justice Department issued nearly 200
pages of findings documenting instances in which prosecutors and federal
agents were concerned the president might have obstructed justice.
Ultimately, Mueller did not make a determination as to whether the president
broke the law, based partly on the Justice Departments long-standing policy
that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime while in office.
Attorney General William P. Barr reviewed Muellers findings last month and
declared that both he and Rosenstein had determined the president had not
obstructed justice.
The rule of law is our most important principle, Rosenstein said. As
President Trump pointed out, We govern ourselves in accordance with the
rule of law rather [than]
the whims of an elite few or the dictates of
collective will.
The deputy attorney general recalled that at his confirmation hearing, he
made promises about how the Russia investigation would be handled.
I did pledge to do it right and take it to the appropriate conclusion. I
did not promise to report all results to the public, because grand jury
investigations are ex parte proceedings. It is not our job to render
conclusive factual findings, he said. We just decide whether it is
appropriate to file criminal charges.
Leading up to the release of the Mueller report, Rosenstein had argued
against too much transparency, citing Justice Department policies that
generally dont reveal derogatory information about people who have not been
charged with a crime, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Ultimately, Barr decided to publicly release more.
Rosenstein insisted the investigation had been conducted fairly and
conscientiously, and that as a result, our nation is safer, elections are
more secure, and citizens are better informed about covert foreign influence
schemes. But not everybody was happy with my decision, in case you did not
notice.
He denounced what he called mercenary critics, who get paid to express
passionate opinions about any topic, often with little or no information.
They do not just express disagreement. They launch ad hominem attacks
unrestricted by truth or morality. They make threats, spread fake stories
and even attack your relatives.
Rosenstein also took some shots at the press.
Some of the nonsense that passes for breaking news today would not be worth
the paper it was printed on, if anybody bothered to print it, he said. One
silly question that I get from reporters is, Is it true that you got angry
and emotional a few times over the past few years? Heck yes! Didnt you?
He also tried to joke off questions that emerged over his appearance last
week at Barrs press conference ahead of the release of the Mueller report,
in which he appeared ashen-faced.
Last week, the big topic of discussion was: What were you thinking when
you stood behind Bill Barr at that press conference, with a deadpan
expression? The answer is: I was thinking, My job is to stand here with a
deadpan expression.
The audience applauded.
Can you imagine if I did anything other than stand there at the press
conference? Imagine the reaction and the commentary if I had smiled or
grimaced, Rosenstein said. But you cannot avoid criticism. The only way
you can avoid criticism in public service is if you stay home. But somebody
actually has to do the work, and therefore you have to accept the criticism
that comes with the job.
The evenings other honoree was Robert Tembeckjian, administrator of New
York States Commission on Judicial Conduct. Rosenstein chatted with the
others at his table and checked his phone as Tembeckjian unleashed a steady
stream of criticism against the administrations immigration policies. The
crowd applauded as Tembeckjian warned of the path to tyranny and celebrated
his own familys history as undocumented immigrants from Armenia.
Tembeckjian also earned some laughs at the presidents expense, after
mentioning his own retirement.
I can tell by the absence of Secret Service, he said, that the person
most eager to see [Rosenstein] leave is not here tonight.
EM -> { Trump for 2020 }
On the 49th Parallel
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in
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Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni
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