On Wednesday, a group of 11 House Republicans filed articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who is currently overseeing special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation on Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) introduced the impeachment articles, along with nine of their colleagues. According to ABC News, the lawmakers have accused the Justice Department (DOJ) of “intentionally withholding embarrassing documents and information,” and allege that the DOJ hid investigative information from Congress, abused the Federal Surveillance Intelligence Act and failed “to comply with congressional subpoenas.”
“The DOJ is keeping information from Congress,” Jordan said in a statement. Enough is enough. It’s time to hold Mr. Rosenstein accountable for blocking Congress’s constitutional oversight role.”
We can’t get answers for the American people if we can’t get information from the DOJ.
It’s time to impeach Rod Rosenstein. https://t.co/FeNtMs3mQH
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) July 26, 2018
“It’s time to find a new Deputy Attorney General who is serious about accountability and transparency,” Meadows said in a statement.
I just filed a resolution with @Jim_Jordan and several colleagues to impeach Rod Rosenstein. The DOJ has continued to hide information from Congress and repeatedly obstructed oversight–even defying multiple Congressional subpoenas.
We have had enough.
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) July 25, 2018
This is the latest of the ongoing feud between conservative members of Congress who are allies to President Donald Trump and the DOJ over the Russia investigation. Trump and certain conservative members of Congress have long criticized and questioned Rosenstein since Attorney General Jeff Session recuse himself from the Russia investigation last year.
According to The Huffington Post, GOP House members, lead by Meadows, filed impeachment papers against Rosenstein in April, saying it was “a last-resort option if the Department of Justice fails to respond” to congressional requests for information on the Russia investigation and on an investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.
A DOJ official insisted that the agency has for the most part complied with Congress’ requests, and are working on finding accomodations for the information that still needs to be turned over to lawmakers, ABC News reports.
The impeachment filing comes nearly two weeks after Rosenstein announced that 12 Russian officials had been indicted in connection with the hacking of the Democratic National Committee’s server during the 2016 presidential election.