Chuck Schumer says deputy AG's reputation "imperiled," demands answers
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday said that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's reputation is in jeopardy because of his role that led to the firing of FBI Director James Comey.
In a letter to Rosenstein, the New York Democrat noted that he had developed a reputation for "integrity and impartiality" during his career at the Justice Department that earned him "broad bipartisan support" when he was recently confirmed by the Senate for his current role.
"That reputation is now imperiled by your participation in the abrupt dismissal of FBI Director Comey," Schumer wrote.
He then demanded answers from Rosenstein by Monday to a series of questions. Schumer asked if reports that Comey approached him last week to ask for more resources for the Russia investigation. The Senate minority leader also asked whether it's true that he and Attorney General Jeff Sessions had met with President Trump with the White House on Monday, a day before Comey was fired.
Schumer also wants to know about the circumstances that led to Rosenstein's memo, "Restoring Public Confidence in the FBI," which recommended the removal of Comey as FBI director.
Sessions' participation in Comey's firing, given his recusal from the Russian probe is also a matter Schumer asked about, as well as whether reports were accurate about Rosenstein threatening to resign.
On Thursday morning, the Justice Department denied the Washington Post report that Rosenstein had threatened to quit when the White House had said that the president had acted solely on his recommendation to terminate Comey.