GOP lawmakers — 11 in total — introduce resolution to impeach Rod Rosenstein, who oversees special counsel probe on Russia.
The move by Reps. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) marks a dramatic escalation in the battle over Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein and the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
It also sets up a showdown with House Republican leaders, who have distanced themselves from calls to remove Rosenstein from office. But Meadows and Jordan stopped short of forcing an immediate vote on the measure, sparing Republican lawmakers for now from a potential dilemma.
Meadows and Jordan are leaders of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, a bloc whose members have been among Rosenstein’s most persistent critics.
House Republicans have been ramping up their attacks on the deputy attorney general in recent weeks, accusing him of withholding documents and being insufficiently transparent in his handling of the probe led by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III.
“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,” Rep. Meadows said.
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.”
This story is developing.
[give_form id=”79809″] [contentcards url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/07/25/conservative-lawmakers-introduce-resolution-calling-for-impeachment-of-rod-rosenstein-who-oversees-special-counsel-probe-on-russia/?utm_term=.5ab5d918d58a” target=”_blank”]Trump’s conservative allies in Congress just filed articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein: pic.twitter.com/KqgLsLBESL
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) July 25, 2018