Trump reportedly pressured Rod Rosenstein to declare his loyalty too
During a meeting in December, President Trump asked Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein if he was "on my team," CNN reported Wednesday. Rosenstein's reply was apparently diplomatic: "Of course, we are all on your team, Mr. President."
Trump's question reportedly came as he asked Rosenstein for information about Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. CNN notes that "it is not clear what Trump meant or how Rosenstein interpreted the comment," but the deputy attorney general was apparently "surprised" by the question as well as by how the meeting unfolded. CNN says that Rosenstein had come to the White House hoping to secure the president's support in dealing with repeated document requests from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), but Trump instead questioned him about Mueller's probe.
The president, CNN reports, also asked Rosenstein several questions about his then-upcoming appearance before the House Judiciary Committee. Former FBI Director James Comey in June submitted a statement to the Senate Intelligence Committee claiming that Trump had asked for his loyalty — a request Comey says he refused. Trump fired Comey shortly thereafter.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
During his testimony to the House, which took place just days after his meeting with Trump, Rosenstein denied that he'd ever been asked for any type of "loyalty pledge" by any elected official.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kelly O'Meara Morales is a staff writer at The Week. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and studied Middle Eastern history and nonfiction writing amongst other esoteric subjects. When not compulsively checking Twitter, he writes and records music, subsists on tacos, and watches basketball.
-
How to financially prepare for divorceThe Explainer Facing ‘irreconcilable differences’ does not have to be financially devastating
-
Why it’s important to shop around for a mortgage and what to look forThe Explainer You can save big by comparing different mortgage offers
-
4 ways to save on rising health care costsThe Explainer Health care expenses are part of an overall increase in the cost of living for Americans
-
Bari Weiss’ ‘60 Minutes’ scandal is about more than one reportIN THE SPOTLIGHT By blocking an approved segment on a controversial prison holding US deportees in El Salvador, the editor-in-chief of CBS News has become the main story
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
-
Trump HHS moves to end care for trans youthSpeed Read The administration is making sweeping proposals that would eliminate gender-affirming care for Americans under age 18
-
Jack Smith tells House of ‘proof’ of Trump’s crimesSpeed Read President Donald Trump ‘engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,’ hoarded classified documents and ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice’
-
House GOP revolt forces vote on ACA subsidiesSpeed Read The new health care bill would lower some costs but not extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies
-
Hegseth rejects release of full boat strike footageSpeed Read There are calls to release video of the military killing two survivors of a Sept. 2 missile strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat
-
Trump vows naval blockade of most Venezuelan oilSpeed Read The announcement further escalates pressure on President Nicolás Maduro
