A group of conservative lawmakers have introduces articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the top official overseeing the Russia investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The move by the eleven members of the GOP comes just hours following a meeting with Department of Justice officials over document production.
Reps. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) were joined by nine other co-sponsors when they introduced the bill Wednesday evening.
"For 9 months we’ve warned them consequences were coming, and for 9 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,” Meadows said in a statement.
“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," Meadows continued.
The articles include a series of allegations against Rosenstein including a conflict of interest overseeing Mueller's probe saying that the Deputy Attorney General is a "witness" to the ongoing investigation because he sighed off on an FBI surveillance renewal application to wiretap former Trump aide, Carter Page.
“As such, his conduct in authorizing the FISA surveillance at issue in the joint congressional investigation makes him a fact witness central to the ongoing investigation of potential FISA abuse,” read the articles of impeachment. “Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein’s failure to recuse himself in light of this inherent conflict of interest and failure to recommend the appointment of a second Special Counsel constitute dereliction of duty. Wherefore, Rod Rosenstein, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.”
The lawmakers also allege that Rosenstein "repeatedly failed to produce documents" that have been requested by the House Judiciary Committee and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee who are investigation the FBI and the DOJ over their decision making during the 2016 presidential election.
The lawmakers say Rosenstein has also "attempted to conceal certain facts" by releasing heavily redacted documents the committees have requested.
The DOJ has not commented on the articles of impeachment, but noted that they have complied with the lawmakers' request and given them access to 880,000 pages so far, and have continued to accept new requests related to the House GOP probes.
Photo: Getty Images