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Trump Says He Has No Plans to Fire Rod Rosenstein Trump Says He Has No Plans to Fire Rod Rosenstein
(about 2 hours later)
WASHINGTON — President Trump said Monday that he had no plans to fire Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, in the wake of remarks Mr. Rosenstein had made about the president’s fitness for office and an offer to secretly tape conversations with him.WASHINGTON — President Trump said Monday that he had no plans to fire Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, in the wake of remarks Mr. Rosenstein had made about the president’s fitness for office and an offer to secretly tape conversations with him.
“No, I don’t,” the president told reporters at the White House as he boarded Marine One before a short trip to Orlando, Fla., for a speech to a law enforcement group. Mr. Trump hinted at the disputes he has had with Mr. Rosenstein about the investigation into Russia election interference, which Mr. Rosenstein oversees.“No, I don’t,” the president told reporters at the White House as he boarded Marine One before a short trip to Orlando, Fla., for a speech to a law enforcement group. Mr. Trump hinted at the disputes he has had with Mr. Rosenstein about the investigation into Russia election interference, which Mr. Rosenstein oversees.
“Looking forward to being with him,” the president said. “We’ll be talking on the plane. I actually have a good relationship other than there’s been no collusion.”“Looking forward to being with him,” the president said. “We’ll be talking on the plane. I actually have a good relationship other than there’s been no collusion.”
The two men traveled to Florida together on Air Force One on Monday morning, a week and a half after a face-to-face meeting at the White House was scheduled and then postponed.The two men traveled to Florida together on Air Force One on Monday morning, a week and a half after a face-to-face meeting at the White House was scheduled and then postponed.
After the president and Mr. Rosenstein arrived in Florida, a White House official said the two men had spoken for about 30 minutes during the flight. Afterward, Hogan Gidley, a spokesman, told reporters that Mr. Rosenstein still had a job.After the president and Mr. Rosenstein arrived in Florida, a White House official said the two men had spoken for about 30 minutes during the flight. Afterward, Hogan Gidley, a spokesman, told reporters that Mr. Rosenstein still had a job.
“They discussed various topics including the International Chiefs of Police event later today, support for our great law enforcement officials, border security, how to better address violent crime in Chicago and general DOJ business,” Mr. Gidley said, using the initials for Department of Justice.
Asked how the conversation with Mr. Rosenstein went, the president said: “Great.”Asked how the conversation with Mr. Rosenstein went, the president said: “Great.”
Presumably, Mr. Rosenstein and Mr. Trump used at least some of their time on board to discuss the fact that the deputy attorney general had offered to secretly tape his conversations with Mr. Trump in the chaotic days after the president fired James B. Comey, the F.B.I. director, in the spring of 2017. At that time, Mr. Rosenstein also brought up the possibility of invoking the 25th amendment to remove Mr. Trump from the White House.Presumably, Mr. Rosenstein and Mr. Trump used at least some of their time on board to discuss the fact that the deputy attorney general had offered to secretly tape his conversations with Mr. Trump in the chaotic days after the president fired James B. Comey, the F.B.I. director, in the spring of 2017. At that time, Mr. Rosenstein also brought up the possibility of invoking the 25th amendment to remove Mr. Trump from the White House.
[Read: Rod Rosenstein Suggested Secretly Recording Trump and Discussed 25th Amendment][Read: Rod Rosenstein Suggested Secretly Recording Trump and Discussed 25th Amendment]
Disclosure of those conversations thrust Mr. Rosenstein’s future at the Justice Department into doubt. In the days following those revelations, first published Sept. 21 by The New York Times, Mr. Rosenstein told senior White House officials, including John F. Kelly, Mr. Trump’s chief of staff, that he wished to resign.Disclosure of those conversations thrust Mr. Rosenstein’s future at the Justice Department into doubt. In the days following those revelations, first published Sept. 21 by The New York Times, Mr. Rosenstein told senior White House officials, including John F. Kelly, Mr. Trump’s chief of staff, that he wished to resign.
But Mr. Rosenstein’s offer to quit came while the White House and the president were preoccupied with the fight to confirm Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, and the White House delayed the discussion.But Mr. Rosenstein’s offer to quit came while the White House and the president were preoccupied with the fight to confirm Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, and the White House delayed the discussion.
Ultimately, a planned meeting in late September between Mr. Rosenstein and Mr. Trump was canceled. No new date was announced for a time when the two men would discuss Mr. Rosenstein’s comments and his future at the Justice Department.Ultimately, a planned meeting in late September between Mr. Rosenstein and Mr. Trump was canceled. No new date was announced for a time when the two men would discuss Mr. Rosenstein’s comments and his future at the Justice Department.
During a news conference at the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Trump said that he did not want to fire Mr. Rosenstein, who had denied the reports that he had been willing to secretly tape the president.During a news conference at the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Trump said that he did not want to fire Mr. Rosenstein, who had denied the reports that he had been willing to secretly tape the president.
“We’ve had a good talk,” Mr. Trump said. “He says he never said it, he doesn’t believe it, he said he has a lot of respect for me, and he was very nice, and we’ll see.”“We’ve had a good talk,” Mr. Trump said. “He says he never said it, he doesn’t believe it, he said he has a lot of respect for me, and he was very nice, and we’ll see.”
Mr. Trump had said that the two men did not want to do anything to interfere with Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing. And Kellyanne Conway, a counselor to the president, said during a televised interview that the two men “are both committed to speaking with each other and resolving this once and for all.”Mr. Trump had said that the two men did not want to do anything to interfere with Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing. And Kellyanne Conway, a counselor to the president, said during a televised interview that the two men “are both committed to speaking with each other and resolving this once and for all.”
Should Mr. Rosenstein quit or be fired from the Justice Department, his departure could fuel public rancor going into November’s midterm elections, which have been consumed by anger and jubilation over Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation.Should Mr. Rosenstein quit or be fired from the Justice Department, his departure could fuel public rancor going into November’s midterm elections, which have been consumed by anger and jubilation over Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
Mr. Rosenstein is the top Justice Department official overseeing Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel who is investigating whether the Trump campaign worked with Russia to sway the 2016 election.Mr. Rosenstein is the top Justice Department official overseeing Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel who is investigating whether the Trump campaign worked with Russia to sway the 2016 election.
That position has made Mr. Rosenstein the protector of the Mueller investigation, and sometimes the target of Mr. Trump’s attacks on what he calls a politically motivated witch hunt.That position has made Mr. Rosenstein the protector of the Mueller investigation, and sometimes the target of Mr. Trump’s attacks on what he calls a politically motivated witch hunt.