INADEQUATE TIME CITED AS REASON
by Sharon Rondeau
(Oct. 23, 2018) — On Tuesday evening, Fox News reported that the chairmen of the House Judiciary Committee and Oversight and Government Reform Committee have postponed the scheduled deposition of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein for October 24.
The statement released by Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy reads, “The Committees are unable to ask all questions of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein within the time allotted for tomorrow’s transcribed interview, therefore, the interview will be postponed. Mr. Rosenstein has indicated his willingness to testify before the Judiciary and Oversight Committees in the coming weeks in either a transcribed interview or a public setting. We appreciate his willingness to appear and will announce further details once it has been rescheduled.”
The deposition had already been rescheduled from October 11, when negotiations for Rosenstein to testify to members of the two committees fell through.
Wednesday’s arrangements were for Rosenstein to testify to the two chairmen and two respective ranking members in the presence of a court reporter in a “SCIF,” or specially-outfitted, secure room on Capitol Hill.
It was stressed that Rosenstein’s sworn statements would be “transcribed.”
The report states that the chairmen expressed concerns about their ability to ask Rosenstein the totality of their questions in the time allotted for Wednesday’s deposition, which include whether or not he devised a plan last year to “wear a wire” to secretly record Trump and convince a number of Trump’s cabinet members to claim Trump unable to serve based on the provisions of the 25th Amendment.
The allegations were reported September 21 by The New York Times and were allegedly based on memos created by former FBI Acting Director Andrew McCabe, who through his attorney denied leaking them to the press.
Through a spokesman, Rosenstein immediately denied the claims. On October 8, he flew with Trump on Air Force One to Orlando, FL, during which the two men enjoyed a “great” conversation, according to Trump.
Trump has indicated no desire to fire Rosenstein, nor has Rosenstein suggested he might resign.
Members of the committees have expressed frustration that Rosenstein spoke to The Wall Street Journal last week but not to them.
It was not immediately clear how much time was scheduled for Rosenstein’s testimony Wednesday or how much additional time will be sought when the session is rescheduled.