The media helping him craft the narrative.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein doesn’t give many press interviews. But he did, on Wednesday, invite a Wall Street Journal reporter to the Justice Department for what the Journal called an “expansive” conversation.
Rosenstein talked about the Robert Mueller Trump-Russia special counsel investigation, calling it “appropriate and independent.” He stressed that he serves at the pleasure of the president. He said he tries to avoid media speculation about both the investigation and his job.
Rosenstein had time to discuss a lot of things. One thing apparently not mentioned in the interview was the fact that, at that very moment, Rosenstein was putting off appearing before the House Judiciary-Oversight task force that wants to question him, not just about the Trump-Russia investigation, but about reports that he last year suggested wearing a wire to secretly record President Trump in the White House and that he also discussed invoking the 25th Amendment in an effort to remove the president from office.
Republicans thought that Rosenstein had agreed to talk with them last week. Then they learned he would not show. That prompted House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., to threaten a subpoena.
“It is essential that we talk to him — he knows that,” Goodlatte told Fox News Saturday. “He has not agreed to come for a transcribed interview on the record. He needs to do that, and if he does not agree to do that very soon, I will issue a subpoena for him to appear.”
Now Republicans learn that, even as they were trying unsuccessfully to arrange for Rosenstein to appear, he had time for that chat with the Journal. They’re not happy.
“In speaking to media outlets while running from Congress, Mr. Rosenstein has made his priorities clear,” Republican Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., said in an emailed statement Wednesday night. “Transparency is not one of them.”
“He is obligated,” added Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, in a phone conversation. “When the chairman of the committee that has jurisdiction over your department asks you to come and answer questions, you are obligated to do so.”