Sen. Van Hollen on Comey firing: Rosenstein 'was used by the White House'

[DonViejo]

Source: ABC News




By RILEY BEGGIN
May 11, 2017, 6:17 AM ET

President Donald Trump fired James Comey on Tuesday after Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein wrote letters to the president earlier in the day recommending he be dismissed.

But Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland -- who introduced Rosenstein during his Senate confirmation hearing, recommending him for the post -- said Wednesday he's "disappointed" with Rosenstein's letter to Trump.

"It appears that he was used by the White House for the political purpose of firing an FBI director who was conducting an investigation into collusion between the White House and the Russians," Van Hollen told ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl and Political Director Rick Klein during their Powerhouse Politics podcast. "I read his letter, and to me, it did not pass the credibility test," Van Hollen said.

Because Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation, Rosenstein is currently the highest-ranking DOJ member leading the probe.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rep-van-hollen-comey-firing-rosenstein-white-house/story?id=47337221

[Skittles]

1. how fucking stupid is this guy Rosenstein?

was he unaware Trump has a reputation for compulsive lying and stabbing people in the back?

[Grins]

4. How stupid is this guy Van Hollen?

"It appears that he was used by the White House for the political purpose of firing an FBI director..."

And he did that with his eyes wide-open. That too is unmistakable.

And why is Democrat Van Hollen doing this, 'fer chris' sake? When your enemy is drowning - throw him a damn anchor!!!!

[Ligyron]

2. " ... Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation,"

Except he recommended firing the person in charge of it.

[Thomas Hurt]

3. Sorry dude, not buying that at all.

Rosenstein is not an naif. He did get where he is without having some sense and intellect.

He sold his ass out, when he signed that letter knowing full and well the timing and manner was bull. Just the optics of it gave him the hint.

[regnaD kciN]

5. He just didn't expect Trump would single him out as the prime architect...

He thought he could do his boss' bidding and then hide in the shadows. Bad bet!

[LuckyLib]

7. This is my take as well. He was asked to provide info and opinion, which he should

have provided as a document, not within a letter. Trumpie then took the letter and presented it as rationale/justification for the whole enterprise. Some senior level folks are not used to dealing with demented pathological liars, and in that sense are naive to the world of folks like Trump who never play by the rules. Rosenstein stepped in it big time.

[riversedge]

8. Very well could have happened like that. Too many lies and crap for me to keep track of!

[Qutzupalotl]

6. Rosenstein and Comey are "white hats" according to Claude Taylor and

Louise Mensch. Straight shooters. But it appears Rosenstein was not told his letter was to be used as a pretext for firing Comey, whom he respects:

Link to tweet

[elleng]

9. Thanks. Angers me to see otherwise rational people calling Senator and years' long U.S. attorney

stupid etc.