The currents of mistrust and uncertainty that have long plagued the relationship between the White House and the Department of Justice (DOJ) gained strength this week after reports suggested that deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein spoke with other government officials about collaborating with cabinet officials and wearing a wire to record President Donald Trump in hopes of ousting him from office by invoking the 25th Amendment.
However, since those reports first broke, officials inside the White House have reportedly voiced skepticism about the authenticity of the story, believing instead that the scenario was in fact planted in the press by allies of Andrew McCabe, the fired deputy director of the FBI.
Intriguing underlying allegations
Reporting from the New York Times indicated that in the spring of 2017, Rosenstein made a suggestion that he should embark on a plan to secretly record President Trump as a means of exposing him as unfit for office. It was further alleged that Rosenstein stated a willingness to recruit cabinet officials who could, in turn, invoke the 25th Amendment to effectuate Trump’s removal.
The story asserted that Rosenstein made these explosive remarks in meetings with officials from the FBI and the Justice Department shortly after the firing of James Comey. It was reported that the individuals describing the conversations obtained their knowledge of the events from briefings and memos produced by other agency officials, including McCabe.
Adding fuel to the fire generated by this report is the claim that Rosenstein informed McCabe that he might specifically have the ability to convince Attorney General Jeff Sessions and then-Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly to launch the 25th Amendment removal process against Trump.
Rosenstein denies NYT’s characterization of events
For his part, Rosenstein has issued a vigorous denial of the accusations contained in the New York Times story, calling the piece “inaccurate and factually incorrect.” He added that he would provide no additional comment on a story that cited only anonymous sources with a clear bias against the Justice Department.
Further, Rosenstein made it clear that based on his personal interactions with President Trump, he sees no basis whatsoever for invocation of the 25th Amendment to remove him from office. In a subsequent statement, Rosenstein flatly denied pursuing any recording of the president or advocating for his removal.
Simply sarcasm?
Though the New York Times story paints a picture of intense palace intrigue designed to undermine a sitting president, insiders have characterized the remarks allegedly made by Rosenstein as nothing more than sarcasm borne out of professional frustration.
A former official from the Justice Department who claims to have been present during Rosenstein’s comments about wearing a wire told CBS News that while discussion of wearing a wire did indeed occur, the statement was made in a completely sarcastic manner and that it did not evince any real intention of recording conversations with Trump.
Subterfuge suspected
In the wake of what were initially jarring allegations, a growing number of White House insiders have come to the conclusion that the story is essentially a ruse leaked by Andrew McCabe’s camp meant to provoke Donald Trump into firing Rosenstein and igniting a whole new scandal for the administration.
It is thought that such an action on the part of the president would wreak havoc on Republican prospects in November’s midterm election, something Trump’s opponents would certainly support. McCabe, through a spokesman, has unequivocally denied any involvement in the New York Times‘ reporting.
[show_poll poll_id=853]
Opinion split on Trump’s next steps
Though it appears that many within the White House are of the opinion that the Rosenstein story was a plant by McCabe and his supporters, and that the deputy attorney general should remain in his position, there are other backers of the president who have expressed strong feelings to the contrary.
Fox News legal and political analyst Gregg Jarret pulled no punches in his assessment of the situation, calling for Rosenstein’s immediate firing in a Friday tweet.
Driven by vengeance, Rosenstein sought to secretly record the President. He must be fired immediately! Since a clearly biased Rosenstein has been in charge of the Mueller investigation, it must be terminated. This illegitimate probe has been tainted by corruption from the start.
— Gregg Jarrett (@GreggJarrett) September 21, 2018
Fox’s Sean Hannity, however, took the opposite position, imploring President Trump to refrain from firing anyone. He argued that by dismissing Rosenstein, the administration would be falling into a trap set by the “deep state” that was designed undermine the Trump agenda from within.
Considering Rosenstein’s status as the Justice Department official in charge of overseeing Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, the question of his continued employment is a potential minefield for President Trump. The ultimate decision regarding Rosenstein’s professional fate remains to be seen, with the White House thus far giving no clear signals in either direction.
555 Responses
Major thanks for the blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged.
This is one awesome blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Keep writing.
Hey, thanks for the blog.Much thanks again. Want more.
Major thanks for the article post.Much thanks again. Really Great.
Im thankful for the blog article.Really thank you! Fantastic.
I truly appreciate this article post.Really thank you! Will read on…
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic post.Really thank you! Great.
Thanks for the article post.Really thank you! Want more.
Appreciate you sharing, great blog.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic post.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
I really liked your blog article.Much thanks again. Want more.
A big thank you for your blog post. Will read on…
Instead, help students through poses that stretch their hamstrings and open up their hips.- Walking: Walking is an ideal form of exercise and nearly heals any general health disorder.
Im grateful for the article.Really thank you! Great.
I value the blog article.Really thank you! Awesome.
984046 997701Currently actually do not stop eating because there is but the decision which you will transform into. Work from your home us rrs often a fad for that who wants to earn cash however nonetheless enough time requires most substantial occasions making use of children and kids goes for as the modern habit. attract abundance 560936
I’m really loving the theme/design of your site. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems? A number of my blog visitors have complained about my website not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Opera. Do you have any solutions to help fix this issue?
And you also et your free account upon Bebo?
Major thankies for the post.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.
Really appreciate you sharing this post.Really looking forward to read more. Keep writing.
Very neat article post.Much thanks again. Awesome.
I needed to create you one tiny observation to be able to say thanks a lot the moment again relating to the gorgeous solutions you’ve shown on this page. It’s simply particularly open-handed with you to deliver without restraint exactly what a number of us could have made available for an ebook in making some bucks for their own end, mostly now that you might well have tried it in the event you considered necessary. The secrets in addition worked to become fantastic way to realize that many people have the identical keenness much like my own to realize great deal more in respect of this issue. I think there are thousands of more enjoyable occasions ahead for many who looked at your website.
Thanks for the blog post.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
Greetings from California! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the information you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how fast your blog loaded on my phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, awesome blog!
Im obliged for the blog.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
955232 656745Woh Every person loves you , bookmarked ! My partner and i take issue in your last point. 896356
Wow, great blog.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
577431 276970I enjoyed reading this a lot I genuinely hope to read more of your posts inside the future, so Ive bookmarked your blog. But I couldnt just bookmark it, oh no.. When I see quality websites like this 1, I like to share it with others So Ive developed a backlink to your site (from 281675
Appreciate you sharing, great article post.Really thank you! Fantastic.
Im grateful for the article.Really thank you! Fantastic.
Really appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really thank you! Fantastic.
Really appreciate you sharing this blog.Really thank you! Fantastic.
I really liked your blog article. Awesome.
Are you in desire for a plumber you can trust Winston Salem Plumbing Pros, 111 N Chestnut St, Winston Salem, NC 27101
I appreciate you sharing this blog article. Cool.
When some one searches for his vital thing, therefore he/she wishes to be available that in detail, thus that thing is maintained over here.
I really liked your blog article.Really thank you! Awesome.
Say, you got a nice article post.Really thank you! Awesome.
I really liked your post.Really thank you!
A round of applause for your post.Really thank you! Will read on…