House Republicans move to impeach deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein
A group of Republicans infuriated at the investigation into Russian meddling in the election have launched a bid to impeach Rod Rosenstein, the man overseeing Robert Mueller’s work.
Mark Meadows, a congressman from North Carolina, said Mr Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, had behaved in a “reprehensible” way.
He and his 10 colleagues argue that Mr Rosenstein, who supervises the Mueller inquiry, has kept congress in the dark about the progress of the investigation.
Mr Mueller was appointed by Mr Rosenstein in May 2017, after Mr Sessions recused himself. Mr Rosenstein is the only person with constitutional authority to fire Mr Mueller, and must approve matters that fall inside his jurisdiction.
Mr Mueller must also follow justice department regulations and consult with Mr Rosenstein about how to handle matters outside his jurisdiction.
Mr Rosenstein is charged in five articles of "high crimes and misdemeanors" for failing to produce information to the committees - even though the department has already provided politicians with more than 800,000 documents - and of signing off on what some Republicans say was improper surveillance of Trump adviser Carter Page, with a FISA warrant. That warrant was also signed by a federal judge.
The resolution also questions whether the investigation was started on legitimate grounds, and criticises Mr Rosenstein for refusing to produce a memo detailing the scope of Mr Mueller’s work.
It is highly unusual, if not unprecedented, for politicians to demand documents that are part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
And the 11 Republicans' move appeared unlikely to gain much traction.
Indeed, Mr Meadows himself chose not to force an immediate vote on the impeachment resolution, even though he could use procedural manoeuvres to do so. That is being seen as a sign that he knows he would not get enough support for the resolution to pass.
Republican leaders have not signed on to the effort and are unlikely to back it.
Trey Gowdy, a member of the Tea Party who chairs the House oversight committee, said after meeting with justice department officials earlier this month that he was pleased with the department's efforts.
Paul Ryan, the most senior Republican in the House, has also said he is satisfied with progress on the document production.
On Thursday he dismissed the moved by the 11 Republicans as unnecessary. He said the department of justice was largely complying with demand for documents surrounding the investigation.
"I don't think we should be cavalier with this process or this term," he said of impeachment. "I don't think this rises to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors."
The House leaves on Thursday afternoon for a five-week recess.
In a joint statement, the top Democrats on the House judiciary, oversight and government reform and intelligence committees called the move a "panicked and dangerous attempt to undermine an ongoing criminal investigation in an effort to protect President Trump as the walls are closing in around him and his associates."
So far, Mr Mueller, the special counsel, has charged 32 people and three companies. That includes four Trump campaign advisers and 12 Russian intelligence officers.
