Jeff Sessions praised Rod Rosenstein before the Devin Nunes memo was released
Alex Wong/Getty Images
- US Attorney General Jeff Sessions had glowing words for his deputy, Rod Rosenstein, hours before the Devin Nunes memo was released on Friday.
- At a Justice Department event, Sessions said Rosenstein and Rosenstein's deputy, Rachel Brand, represent "the kind of quality and leadership that we want in the department."
- Sessions' praise for Rosenstein and Brand caught some attention in part because the Nunes memo attempts to implicate Rosenstein, among others, in accusations of improper surveillance at the FBI and the DOJ.
- The attorney general's comments gained further significance after the memo came out, when Trump said "you figure that one out" in response to questions about whether he would seek to fire Rosenstein,
Attorney General Jeff Sessions praised his second-in-command, Rod Rosenstein, hours before the disputed Devin Nunes memo came out on Friday.
Sessions was preparing to speak at a Justice Department event when he paused to applaud Rosenstein and associate attorney general Rachel Brand after she had introduced Sessions to the audience.
"Thank you, Rachel, for your kind words and, more importantly, for your strong leadership as our third in command at the department," Sessions said.
"Rod and Rachel are Harvard graduates, they are experienced lawyers. Rod's had 27 years in the department, Rachel's had a number of years in the department previously, so they both represent the kind of quality and leadership we want in the department," Sessions continued.
Watch Sessions speak below:
His remarks preceded the release of the memo alleging in part that Rosenstein improperly extended surveillance of the Trump campaign adviser Carter Page during the 2016 election.
Rosenstein is one of several law-enforcement officials who signed off on surveillance of Page as part of the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 US election. Page had been a concern for US counterintelligence officials since 2013.
Rosenstein in May 2017 appointed special counsel Robert Mueller to oversee the Russia investigation and he has since been the target of some of President Donald Trump's harshest public criticism. Those criticisms have prompted speculation that Trump was looking for reasons to fire Rosenstein.
When reporters asked Trump on Friday whether he would move to dismiss Rosenstein, Trump said "You figure that one out."
The memo, written by House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes and other top Republican lawmakers, accuses some officials at the FBI and the DOJ of acting on what it calls political bias against Trump.
Current and former officials at the agencies and some Democratic lawmakers have criticized the memo, calling it an attempt to discredit top law-enforcement institutions in the interest of protecting Trump.
Interesting. Hours before the Nunes memo was released (which Trump has reportedly considered using to fire Rod Rosenstein), Jeff Sessions praised Rosenstein and Rachel Brand, saying "they both represent the kind of quality and leadership that we want in the Department." pic.twitter.com/O9B3YfqqR2
- Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 2, 2018
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
- Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Investors may not be too excited.
- Catan adds climate change to the latest edition of the world-famous board game
- Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
- Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
- JNK India IPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more
- Indian Army unveils selfie point at Hombotingla Pass ahead of 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market