It's not our job to render conclusive factual findings. We just decide whether it is appropriate to file criminal charges.

Rod Rosenstein

Categorized in : Top News

I know what he’s doing. by Rod Rosenstein

I know what he’s doing.

DOJ investigations must not be tainted by individuals imposing th... by Rod Rosenstein

DOJ investigations must not be tainted by individuals imposing their own political prejudices.

If I thought he was doing something inappropriate, I would take a... by Rod Rosenstein

If I thought he was doing something inappropriate, I would take action.

I know what he’s doing, he consults with me about their investigation, within and without the scope.

I am not aware of any impropriety. Special Counsel is subject to oversight by the Department of Justice and I’m not aware of any violations of those rules, appearance is, to some extent, in the eye of the beholder. We apply the department’s rules and regulations, and career ethics attorneys provide us counsel on that.

If he finds evidence of a crime that's within in the scope of what Director Mueller and I have agreed is the appropriate scope of this investigation, then he can.

If it's something outside that scope, he needs to come to the acting attorney general, at this time me, for permission to expand his investigation.

I've got to explain that I made the decision to appoint Director Mueller based upon his reputation. He had an excellent reputation.Really bipartisan support for his integrity.

In my capacity as acting attorney general, I determined that it is in the public interest for me to exercise my authority and appoint a Special Counsel to assume responsibility for this matter.

What I have determined is that based upon the unique circumstances, the public interest requires me to place this investigation under the authority of a person who exercises a degree of independence from the normal chain of command.

When I took the oath to preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States, there is nothing in that oath about my reputation.

If you ask me, one of the main problems in Washington, DC, is that everybody is so busy running around trying to protect their reputation instead of protecting the public which is what they're supposed to be doing.

I'm not going to talk about that, are you surprised by that? by Rod Rosenstein

I'm not going to talk about that, are you surprised by that?

You view it as an issue of principle that I need to commit to appoint a special counsel in a manner that I don't even know if it's being investigated, but my view is that I have a responsibility when I take that oath, if I become deputy attorney general. I cannot take it conditioned upon having committed how I'm going to handle a particular case.

Certainly if the president had a conflict in a particular matter I would not take any advice from the president.

If there's evidence, senator, that the attorney general and the president have information relevant to a criminal investigation in this case, as in previous cases that I've handled I'll make sure they're questioned.

Anybody could call, senator. They're not going to get an answer. by Rod Rosenstein

Anybody could call, senator. They're not going to get an answer.

'I've had no communication with the White House at all about that issue, nor have I had communication with the attorney general about that issue.

The authority that I would give to a special counsel would be whatever authority is appropriate to make sure that he or she had the full range of authority to conduct the appropriate investigation that's required and justified by the facts and the law, just like we do in all other cases within the department.

I don't want to make any commitment about what I would do at the conclusion of investigation without knowing the details of the investigation. Talking with the director of the FBI, I can assure you, that if it's appropriate to release it to the American public, I would.