...Rod Rosenstein knew before he wrote his controversial memo that Comey would be fired

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein knew before he wrote his controversial memo that Comey would be fired

By Sari Horwitz and Ed O'Keefe May 18 at 4:28 PM

Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein told the full Senate he knew that former Director James B. Comey would be fired before he wrote his controversial memo that the White House initially used as justification for President Trump firing the FBI director.

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) said that Rosenstein told the senators that he knew on Monday, the day before Comey was fired, that Trump was going to fire him. He also told them that he was not pressured into writing his memo.

He learned the presidents decision to fire him and then he wrote his memo with his rationale, Durbin said.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), a former prosecutor, said she would reserve judgment about Rosensteins comments to the senators because members of Congress still havent seen all of the relevant documents. She added that Rosenstein was very careful about not going into any details surrounding the removal of Comey because he wants to give Robert Mueller the opportunity to make an independent decision about how to proceed.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/deputy-attorney-general-rod-rosenstein-will-brief-the-full-senate-in-a-closed-session/2017/05/18/41de8548-3bd4-11e7-8854-21f359183e8c_story.html?utm_term=.7dddb10089a2&wpisrc=nl_evening&wpmm=1

[rzemanfl]

1. So he threw himself under the bus?

I don't get it. Maybe he knew the White House would use the memo as an excuse and would be found out? How?
This is very strange. Of course life since 11/8/16 has been totally strange.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Could be as simple as going along to get along

Agree with the boss is a way to remain employed in your current job.

[nycbos]

4. People like this also care about their reputations.

He spent his entire career at DOJ and was universally respected. why would he burn that for Donald Trump.

A GOP consultant said this about the NSA. I'm paraphrasing "McMaster spent his career serving honorably and build up a reputation for integrity. Trump burned through it in 12 hours."

This seems pretty similar.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. $$$$$$

McCarthy said on tape Putin pays Trump, and a member of Congress I think.
They laughed about it and were told to be quiet, keep it in the family. They
say they were joking.

Cash, check or credit card?

₽₽₽₽₽₽

[nycbos]

7. A guy who only cares about money doesn't spend his entire career at DOJ

If he wanted to get paid, a guy like him could have gone to any white collar law firm he wanted.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. You're right.

It's wrong to assert a pattern into the mix. Just throwing out ideas.

[nycbos]

11. Just thought of this.

[nycbos]

3. Then why would he go along with it.

This is a man who spent his entire career at the DOJ. Had (passed tense) a excellent reputation.


Why would he sacrifice everything he accomplished for Donald Trump. Because you can see the man is out of control.

[onit2day]

14. Please never forget the manner in which he wasfired

It was dishonorable, vindictive, threatening and demeaning. It was inexcusable. The actions of a petty bully.

[Chemisse]

5. I am now curious about the wording of the memo.

I heard earlier that it didn't actually suggest Comey be fired.

It seems he went out on a limb a little bit, then promptly had it sawed off behind him.

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Those documents available online

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/rosenstein-letter-annotated/526116/

[Chemisse]

10. Thanks! That helped.

It looks like he was lured into writing a memo to support the stance that Comey erred in his treatment of the Clinton investigation, falling shy of recommending or supporting his firing.

Then Trump used it to justify the firing, just before admitting it was to "shorten" the Russian-ties investigation. What a slam!

[MedusaX]

12. Given that Rosenstein knew his letter would have no bearing on the decision... he wrote a letter

That on the surface appears to support 45's decision to fire Comey.

But if you were to replace "FBI Director" actions as the subject
With POTUS actions as subject... the letter is written so that it would apply.

A couple of key phrases that caught my attention:

• Never empowered to supplant federal prosecutors and assume command of Justice Dept.

• (inappropriate) to announce ones own conclusions
(When you are not the official decision maker)

There were several others ...

I suggest Re-reading the letter without focusing on Comey / email specific actions...
rather read it looking for the reason
WHY
he chose specific aspects to point to
within the broader concept of rules/norms and violations of those rules/norms...

And think about who else has demonstrated similar violations...

Hmmmmmmmmm........


He knew 45 would not really read it...
or realize that it also could be applied to his various actions ....



Or maybe Rosenstein was just trying to be a loyal trumpanzee

Who really knows at this point...

[Ms. Toad]

13. Why is this news?

This is the story I heard right after Trump admitted he planned to fire him, before he received the letters from Rosenstein - that he had informed Sessions and Rosenstein that he was going to fire Comey and told them to write legal letters providing support for the termination.

Rosenstein's letter is very much a legal justification letter, not an independent recommendation to fire. But that was news within a day of Comey being fired.

[StevieM]

15. Never-the-less, Comey's behavior during the fake email scandal were absolutely reprehensible.

He deserved to be fired. But obviously this isn't the real reason Trump got rid of him.

Comey should have been fired in January. Once the decision was made to keep him he should not have been terminated 3 1/2 months later over Russia.

Then again, to have fired Comey in January Trump would have had to admit that the whole basis for his election was fraudulent.