Rod Rosenstein said privately that Trump administration manipulated him into writing the memo that justified the firing of James Comey, and that the full story will vindicate him.
The New York Times reported:
But in meetings with law enforcement officials in the chaotic days immediately after Mr. Comey’s dismissal, and in subsequent conversations with colleagues and friends, Mr. Rosenstein appeared conflicted, according to the four people. He alternately defended his involvement, expressed remorse at the tumult it unleashed, said the White House had manipulated him, fumed how the media had portrayed the events and said the full story would vindicate him, said the people, who in recent weeks described the previously undisclosed episodes.
According to one person with whom he spoke with shortly after Mr. Comey’s firing, Mr. Rosenstein was “shaken,†“unsteady†and “overwhelmed.â€
Rod Rosenstein’s story matters in the Trump obstruction of justice investigation
If the Trump White House manipulated Rosenstein, and a look at the Rosenstein memo that was used as justification for firing Comey leads one to speculate that he was, it will provide more evidence to Mueller that Trump was trying to obstruct justice. If Trump intended to fire Comey for a legitimate reason, his White House wouldn’t have to con Rosenstein into writing a memo that would give them political cover.
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The real story, which Mueller probably already has, is likely to be something close to Trump using Rosenstein as justification to fire Comey and then throwing him under the bus. When the real story comes out, it will be a bad day for Donald Trump and a potentially great day for the United States of America.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
