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| Rosenstein Discussed Replacing Comey at F.B.I. Before Joining Trump Administration | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, talked with Attorney General Jeff Sessions about replacing James B. Comey as F.B.I. director last winter, before either man had been confirmed for his position in the Trump administration. | |
| In a briefing memorandum to members of Congress released Friday by the Justice Department, Mr. Rosenstein indicated that he had long believed Mr. Comey should be dismissed because of his public statements related to the investigation of Hillary Clinton. It had not been previously known that Mr. Rosenstein then discussed the matter with Mr. Sessions as he was being considered for his position. | In a briefing memorandum to members of Congress released Friday by the Justice Department, Mr. Rosenstein indicated that he had long believed Mr. Comey should be dismissed because of his public statements related to the investigation of Hillary Clinton. It had not been previously known that Mr. Rosenstein then discussed the matter with Mr. Sessions as he was being considered for his position. |
| “Among the concerns that I recall were to restore the credibility of the F.B.I., respect the established authority of the Department of Justice, limit public statements and eliminate leaks,” he said, echoing the concerns he had outlined in a May 9 memo that the White House released publicly that day and has cited as the basis for the ouster. | “Among the concerns that I recall were to restore the credibility of the F.B.I., respect the established authority of the Department of Justice, limit public statements and eliminate leaks,” he said, echoing the concerns he had outlined in a May 9 memo that the White House released publicly that day and has cited as the basis for the ouster. |
| But on May 8 — the day before Mr. Rosenstein drafted that three-page memo, he told lawmakers — he had learned of Mr. Trump’s intention to remove Mr. Comey from the job. | But on May 8 — the day before Mr. Rosenstein drafted that three-page memo, he told lawmakers — he had learned of Mr. Trump’s intention to remove Mr. Comey from the job. |
| “I thought it was appropriate to seek a new leader,” he said, expressing more direct support for the firing than he had in his more measured memo, which stopped short of endorsing a particular action but rather outlined what he called Mr. Comey’s “serious mistakes” and noted that any possible decision to dismiss Mr. Comey “should not be taken lightly.” | “I thought it was appropriate to seek a new leader,” he said, expressing more direct support for the firing than he had in his more measured memo, which stopped short of endorsing a particular action but rather outlined what he called Mr. Comey’s “serious mistakes” and noted that any possible decision to dismiss Mr. Comey “should not be taken lightly.” |
| Before submitting his memo, Mr. Rosenstein said, he solicited feedback from several career lawyers at the Justice Department, including one specializing in ethics issues. He told that lawyer Mr. Trump planned to fire Mr. Comey, and that he was a writing a memo addressed to Mr. Sessions “summarizing my own concerns.” The other lawyer was not identified. | Before submitting his memo, Mr. Rosenstein said, he solicited feedback from several career lawyers at the Justice Department, including one specializing in ethics issues. He told that lawyer Mr. Trump planned to fire Mr. Comey, and that he was a writing a memo addressed to Mr. Sessions “summarizing my own concerns.” The other lawyer was not identified. |
| The release of the memo followed what was otherwise an unremarkable appearance on Friday that left many House members frustrated by Mr. Rosenstein’s refusal to answer questions about the investigation into Russian election meddling. | The release of the memo followed what was otherwise an unremarkable appearance on Friday that left many House members frustrated by Mr. Rosenstein’s refusal to answer questions about the investigation into Russian election meddling. |
| Representative Seth Moulton, Democrat of Massachusetts, said there was “considerable frustration” among lawmakers as Mr. Rosenstein declined to answer more detailed questions about the events leading to the abrupt termination. | Representative Seth Moulton, Democrat of Massachusetts, said there was “considerable frustration” among lawmakers as Mr. Rosenstein declined to answer more detailed questions about the events leading to the abrupt termination. |
| “This renewed my confidence that we should not have confidence in this administration,” Mr. Moulton said. Asked whether that included Mr. Rosenstein, he said, “I don’t think he did a lot to bolster our confidence in him.” | “This renewed my confidence that we should not have confidence in this administration,” Mr. Moulton said. Asked whether that included Mr. Rosenstein, he said, “I don’t think he did a lot to bolster our confidence in him.” |
| According to lawmakers and Mr. Rosenstein’s prepared remarks, the deputy attorney general offered little clarity about how related congressional inquiries may proceed in light of Mr. Rosenstein’s appointment on Wednesday of a special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, to examine the possibility of collusion between President Trump’s associates and Russian officials. | According to lawmakers and Mr. Rosenstein’s prepared remarks, the deputy attorney general offered little clarity about how related congressional inquiries may proceed in light of Mr. Rosenstein’s appointment on Wednesday of a special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, to examine the possibility of collusion between President Trump’s associates and Russian officials. |
| The fact that Mr. Mueller’s inquiry is focused on possible crimes is almost certain to limit the cooperation of potential subjects of the investigation who might otherwise testify before Congress or share documents. | The fact that Mr. Mueller’s inquiry is focused on possible crimes is almost certain to limit the cooperation of potential subjects of the investigation who might otherwise testify before Congress or share documents. |
| “Congress is going to want to look over the shoulder of this investigation,” said Representative Darrell Issa of California, a Republican who was an aggressive chairman of the House Oversight Committee during the Obama administration. “The executive branch will always try to limit that for fear it will contaminate potential criminal investigations, or leaks.” | “Congress is going to want to look over the shoulder of this investigation,” said Representative Darrell Issa of California, a Republican who was an aggressive chairman of the House Oversight Committee during the Obama administration. “The executive branch will always try to limit that for fear it will contaminate potential criminal investigations, or leaks.” |
| “I don’t expect this to be any different,” he added. | “I don’t expect this to be any different,” he added. |
| Mr. Rosenstein instead delivered careful characterizations about the inquiry and deferred to Mr. Mueller’s autonomy as special counsel, and a pending investigation into Mr. Comey’s conduct by the Justice Department’s Inspector General. He said that his memo had not been a legal brief, or a finding of official misconduct by Mr. Comey or “a statement of reasons to justify a for-cause termination.” | Mr. Rosenstein instead delivered careful characterizations about the inquiry and deferred to Mr. Mueller’s autonomy as special counsel, and a pending investigation into Mr. Comey’s conduct by the Justice Department’s Inspector General. He said that his memo had not been a legal brief, or a finding of official misconduct by Mr. Comey or “a statement of reasons to justify a for-cause termination.” |
| Representative Jackie Speier of California, a Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Friday that Mr. Rosenstein had made it clear that Mr. Mueller would have “carte blanche authority,” but he also reassured lawmakers that he understood the role of Congress. | Representative Jackie Speier of California, a Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Friday that Mr. Rosenstein had made it clear that Mr. Mueller would have “carte blanche authority,” but he also reassured lawmakers that he understood the role of Congress. |
| “I think he’s very respectful of the role that the Congress is playing in doing its investigation,” she said, “and the separate and distinct role that the Department of Justice is pursuing.” | “I think he’s very respectful of the role that the Congress is playing in doing its investigation,” she said, “and the separate and distinct role that the Department of Justice is pursuing.” |
| Mr. Rosenstein signed the legal order naming Mr. Mueller special counsel on Wednesday before informing Mr. Sessions or the White House of that decision. Democrats were simultaneously heartened by the selection of a respected former F.B.I. director and prosecutor to lead an investigation that they feared had been tarnished by Mr. Trump’s interference, while also concerned about the possibility of losing their grip on the information coming out of their own investigations. | Mr. Rosenstein signed the legal order naming Mr. Mueller special counsel on Wednesday before informing Mr. Sessions or the White House of that decision. Democrats were simultaneously heartened by the selection of a respected former F.B.I. director and prosecutor to lead an investigation that they feared had been tarnished by Mr. Trump’s interference, while also concerned about the possibility of losing their grip on the information coming out of their own investigations. |
| The New York Times has reported that Mr. Trump asked Mr. Comey for his “loyalty” during a private dinner and requested he drop the investigation into Michael T. Flynn, his former national security adviser, who is under scrutiny regarding his ties to Russia and Turkey. | The New York Times has reported that Mr. Trump asked Mr. Comey for his “loyalty” during a private dinner and requested he drop the investigation into Michael T. Flynn, his former national security adviser, who is under scrutiny regarding his ties to Russia and Turkey. |