Rosenstein poised to lead Russia probe
WASHINGTON: Federal prosecutor Rod Rosenstein is close to becoming the new face of the US investigation into Russia’s meddling in last year’s presidential election and whether anyone associated with President Donald Trump played a role in such interference.
Key Democrats joined Republicans on the Senate floor on Tuesday in saying they’ll back the soft-spoken Mr Rosenstein as deputy attorney-general in a confirmation vote.
That would put him i n charge of the justice department’s Russia hacking investigation, or deciding whether to name a special counsel since Attorney-General Jeff Sessions has recused himself from the inquiry.
“I do not question his experience or his competence,” Richard Durbin of Illinois, the Senate’s No 2 Democrat, said of Mr Rosenstein during floor debate. “I expect he’ll be confirmed.” Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer of New York agreed.
One of the first decisions Mr Rosenstein, the current US Attorney for Maryland, would have to make is whether to appoint an independent special counsel to lead the Russia probe or to personally oversee the work being done by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Many Democrats, i ncluding Mr Schumer and Mr Durbin, want him to appoint a special counsel. “It’s incumbent on Mr Rosenstein to ensure this investigation is conducted with independence, diligence and integrity,” Mr Durbin said. “Appointing a special counsel is the best way to do this.”
If he doesn’t appoint a special counsel, Mr Durbin said, responsibility will fall squarely on Mr Rosenstein. “I hope he’ll be willing to speak truth to power and stand up to the president and the attorney-general,” Mr Durbin said.
Mr Rosenstein would pick up oversight of the Russia probe from Dana Boente, a US prosecutor in Virginia who has been filling in as acting deputy attorney-general. Mr Sessions recused himself from the investigation in March after failing to disclose he had met twice last year with Russia’s ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak.
US intelligence agencies found Russia hacked into Democratic emails and leaked them last year in an effort to hurt Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
FBI Director James Comey told a congressional committee in March that the investigation includes “the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between them”. Russia rejects the accusations.