Rep. Bob Goodlatte said he may subpoena Rod Rosenstein over reports indicating the Deputy AG sought to secretly record President Trump and pursue the 25th Amendment route to force him out of office.
According to the New York Times, memos written by former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe show that Rosenstein offered to wear a wire during meetings with Trump.
The bombshell report also claimed he had “discussed recruiting cabinet members to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Mr. Trump from office for being unfit.”
Rosenstein responded by saying the comments were made in jest, a sarcastic response to McCabe for suggesting he investigate the President.
The House Judiciary Committee, however, would like a word with Mr. Rosenstein.
Goodlatte steps in
“It’s essential that we talk to him. He knows that. He has not agreed to come for a transcribed interview on the record. He needs to agree to do that,” Goodlatte insisted. “If he does not agree to do that very soon, I will issue a subpoena for him to appear.”
Goodlatte considering subpoena threat for Rosenstein https://t.co/IPYJ2e73JN #FoxNews #CNN #MSNBC #TGBTG
— Daniel St.Pierre (@cybergenica) October 15, 2018
Goodlatte said that, with multiple reports that Rosenstein meant what was said, and others saying he didn’t, it is “important to us” to get to the truth.
“We need to hear his version,” Goodlatte said.
Former top FBI lawyer James Baker, who offered what one lawmaker described as “explosive” testimony to Congress, insisted that Rosenstein’s idea to record the President and use the evidence to push Trump out of office was quite serious.
#DrainTheSwamp – @SaraCarterDC: First, DOJ said Rosenstein was just joking around. Then they tried to blame it on Andy McCabe and Lisa Page. Now we have James Baker, who says Rosenstein was very serious about recording @POTUS & invoking 25th Amendment. #MAGA #TrumpTrain #Dobbs pic.twitter.com/RshV8nAxGk
— Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) October 9, 2018
One source directly familiar with the investigation told John Solomon of The Hill that Baker viewed it as “a real plan being discussed” and something that “was no laughing matter for the FBI.”
Another senior FBI official testified that Rosenstein’s comments were taken to be serious in nature.
Rosenstein was requested to meet with Congress last week, but refused the invite.
Jordan backs Goodlatte
Rep. Jim Jordan, like Goodlatte, implored Rosenstein to talk.
“We need him to answer questions about all kinds of issues associated with the Trump-Russia investigation, but specifically, the statement … about actually recording the commander in chief of our great country and he talked about the 25th Amendment,” he said.
.@Jim_Jordan on Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein: “He didn’t show up.” #SundayFutures @MariaBartiromo https://t.co/qbKl72VJ68 pic.twitter.com/9o0tHCeRCQ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 14, 2018
President Trump announced that despite these troubling comments, he had no intention of firing Rosenstein.
“I get along very well with him,” Trump told reporters.
Asked about having any plans to dismiss the Deputy AG, Trump responded, “No, I don’t.”
Perhaps he’d change his mind if Rosenstein were forced to testify before Congress as to the seriousness of these allegations.
