Republicans look to impeach Mueller-inquiry supervisor

REPUBLICANS infuriated at the inquiry into Russian meddling in the US presidential election have launched a bid to impeach Rod Rosenstein, the man overseeing the special counsel investigation.

Mark Meadows, a congressman from North Carolina, said Mr Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, had behaved in a “reprehensible” way.

He and 10 colleagues argue that Mr Rosenstein, who supervises the Robert Mueller-led inquiry, has kept Congress in the dark about the progress of the investigation.

Mr Rosenstein appointed Mr Mueller in May 2017, and is the only person with constitutional authority to fire him. Mr Mueller must also follow justice department regulations and consult with Mr Rosenstein about how to handle matters outside his jurisdiction.

Mr Rosenstein is charged in five articles of “high crimes and misdemeanours” for failing to produce information to the committees and of signing off on what some Republicans say was improper surveillance of Trump adviser Carter Page, with a FISA warrant.

The resolution also questions whether the investigation was started on legitimate grounds, and criticises Mr Rosenstein for refusing to produce a memo detailing the scope of Mr Mueller’s work.

The 11 Republicans’ move appeared unlikely to gain much traction.

Mr Meadows himself chose not to force an immediate vote on the impeachment resolution, even though he could use procedural manoeuvres to do so. That is being seen as a sign that he knows he would not get enough support for the resolution to pass.