'Sometimes the moment chooses us': Emails reveal Rosenstein-Mueller secrecy on Russia probe
The Washington Times ^ | Monday, October 7, 2019 | Rowan Scarborough
Posted on 10/7/2019
Then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was determined to keep his big secret about a pending special counsel right up to the day his top candidate, Robert Mueller, sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office.
?The boss and his staff do not know about our discussions,? Mr. Rosenstein said in an email to Mr. Mueller on May 12, 2017.
Mr. Rosenstein?s ?boss? was an apparent reference to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who had stepped away from any role in the Russia probe. This meant that Mr. Trump didn?t know either.
The email was one of a thread of messages that the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch obtained from the Justice Department under a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.
Mr. Trump has claimed that the purpose of Mr. Mueller?s May 16 White House visit was to interview him for the vacant FBI director post. Mr. Mueller, a former FBI director, has said the meeting?s purpose was to discuss the bureau in general.
Whatever the purpose, John Dowd, Mr. Trump?s attorney during the ensuing 22-month probe, said Mr. Mueller had a duty not to meet with the president knowing he was likely to be investigating the Trump campaign.
?The most dishonorable conduct I have ever witnessed,? Mr. Dowd told The Washington Times.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
The Washington Times ^ | Monday, October 7, 2019 | Rowan Scarborough
Posted on 10/7/2019
Then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was determined to keep his big secret about a pending special counsel right up to the day his top candidate, Robert Mueller, sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office.
?The boss and his staff do not know about our discussions,? Mr. Rosenstein said in an email to Mr. Mueller on May 12, 2017.
Mr. Rosenstein?s ?boss? was an apparent reference to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who had stepped away from any role in the Russia probe. This meant that Mr. Trump didn?t know either.
The email was one of a thread of messages that the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch obtained from the Justice Department under a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.
Mr. Trump has claimed that the purpose of Mr. Mueller?s May 16 White House visit was to interview him for the vacant FBI director post. Mr. Mueller, a former FBI director, has said the meeting?s purpose was to discuss the bureau in general.
Whatever the purpose, John Dowd, Mr. Trump?s attorney during the ensuing 22-month probe, said Mr. Mueller had a duty not to meet with the president knowing he was likely to be investigating the Trump campaign.
?The most dishonorable conduct I have ever witnessed,? Mr. Dowd told The Washington Times.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
