Rosenstein to be grilled today on Trump bombshells

[nitpicker]

Source: The Hill

By Jordain Carney - 05/18/17 06:00 AM EDT

Rod Rosenstein is expected to be grilled Thursday on back-to-back political bombshells that have rattled the nation’s capital. The deputy attorney general will brief all senators on Thursday afternoon behind closed doors, giving many lawmakers their first face-to-face meeting with an administration official since President Trump’s surprise decision to fire former FBI Director James Comey.

In the wake of intense pressure from Democrats, Rosenstein announced Wednesday evening that former FBI Director Robert Mueller will serve as special counsel to probe any election collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. Rosenstein had previously declined to appoint a special counsel.

Senators will lob questions at the newly minted deputy attorney general, who recommended Comey’s firing in a memo to Trump before the FBI chief was terminated last week. The timing of Rosenstein’s decision to tap Mueller will surely come up on Thursday and whether Rosenstein consulted the White House before making his decision.
(snip)

Another issue that is likely to come up is whether Rosenstein was aware of the memo that Comey reportedly wrote after Trump allegedly suggested that the FBI director back off in the probe of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
(snip)

While Thursday’s briefing is not open to the press, it’s likely that details of the meeting will be leaked.


Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/333972-rosenstein-to-be-grilled-today-on-trump-bombshells

[lamp_shade]

1. 2:30 this afternoon I understand. I plan to stay tuned for the inevitable leaks.

[Honeycombe8]

2. I wonder why he changed his mind about a special counsel?

To take the heat off the decision that Trump is making for the new FBI Director?

[ATL Ebony]

3. Possibly to ensure the new Director couldn't further block the investigation.

Giving him a little credit, hope it's deserving.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. I wonder if he knew that Flynn, paid by Turkey, blocking an attack on ISIS, was going to come out

see https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141777586

While that's Turkey rather than Russia, I think it's relevant since it's Flynn, and I think that's going to be huge. I think he may have realised there was no way to not appoint a special counsel, and for his own reputation, he had to make it someone who would be seen as independent and qualified to do the job.

[Qutzupalotl]

5. According to Claude Taylor on Twitter, it had been planned but

moved up because of Trump's actions last week. Which I take to mean firing Comey and giving sensitive intel to Russia.

Link to tweet