FROM EIR DAILY ALERT
Freedom Caucus Insists on End to DOJ/FBI Stalling on Documents, Rosenstein Testimony
Oct. 17, 2018 (EIRNS)—Members of the Congressional Freedom Caucus and allies are demanding that documents requested long ago by House committees from the Justice Department and FBI now be handed over. They also want Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to appear before the joint Judiciary and Government Oversight Committees, or be subpoenaed to appear immediately. Rosenstein is reportedly “negotiating” his appearance, but no firm date has been set.
There is no time to waste, Freedom Caucus Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) warns. Investigative reporter Sara Carter reported Oct. 16 that some Congressional sources fear that Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, won’t follow through on his vow to subpoena Rosenstein should the Deputy Attorney General fail to appear voluntarily. These sources suggest that Rosenstein may be trying to “run the clock,” and stall until Congress recesses.
Representative Jordan expressed great frustration over the DOJ/FBI stalling on document requests. Speaking to Fox’s Maria Bartiromo Oct. 14, he enumerated the many documents the House Oversight Committee has requested, including specific portions of the last FISA warrant application, and FBI interviews with disgraced DOJ official Bruce Ohr (MI6 operative Christopher Steele’s backchannel to the FBI). To date, none of the requested documents has been delivered, he said.
Interviewed on Fox’s Tucker Carlson show last night, Intelligence Chair Rep. Devin Nunes expressed similar frustration over the DOJ/FBI’s failure to hand over documents, and over Rosenstein’s refusal to testify to Congress. Moreover, the fact that Rosenstein is still “in the middle of” deciding what gets handed over, and what the American people are allowed to see, is a big mistake, he said. “He shouldn’t be in the decision-making process on this.”
Although former FBI legal counsel James Baker is scheduled to appear tomorrow before those committees, yesterday Glenn Simpson, founder of the “cash for trash” outfit Fusion GPS pled the Fifth Amendment, to avoid testifying. On Oct. 19, Nellie Ohr, Bruce Ohr’s wife who worked for Fusion GPS on the Russia dossier with Christopher Steele, is scheduled to appear before the committees, but there is some speculation she may not appear or may also plead the Fifth.
