Deputy AG Rosenstein Sees No Reason To Fire Robert Mueller

WASHINGTON, DC — Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein declared Wednesday that he sees no reason to fire Robert Mueller, the special counsel appointed to lead the investigation of Russian interference into the 2016 election and potential collusion with President Trump's campaign. His statement came as an indirect rebuke to the growing chorus of voices in conservative media who have criticized Mueller and the work of his team. You can watch the testimony above.

Rosenstein made the remarks at a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday morning.

Mueller not only deserves to keep the job, Rosenstein said, but he is almost uniquely suited to lead the investigation.

"It would be very difficult," Rosenstein said, "for anybody to find someone better qualified for this job."

Mueller's investigation has already led to two indictments and two guilty pleas for former Trump staffers, including his former Campaign Chair Paul Manafort and former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

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"The special counsel's investigation is not a witch hunt," Rosenstein said in response to questions about whether he agreed with Trump's characterization of the probe. "The independence and integrity of the investigation are not going to be affected by anything that anyone says."

When Rosenstein was asked whether he was worried he might be fired by Trump — a potentially necessary step if the president wanted to remove Mueller himself — the deputy attorney said no.

Criticism of Mueller spiked when it was reported that he removed longtime FBI counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok from the Russia probe team because an anti-Trump text message exchange. Copies of the messages released on Tuesday showed two FBI officials — who would later be assigned to the team — called Trump an "idiot" and a "loathesome human." One of the officials said in an election night text that the prospect of a Trump victory was "terrifying."

Strzok exchanged the text messages with FBI lawyer Lisa Page, who was also detailed this year to the group of agents and prosecutors investigating possible collusion between Russia and Trump's campaign.

Hundreds of the messages that surfaced in a Justice Department inspector general investigation of the FBI's inquiry into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server were provided to congressional committees and were reviewed by The Associated Press on Tuesday night.

Rosenstein did not directly address the messages, which are the subject of an inspector general's investigation.

But he says Mueller is conducting himself consistent with the Justice Department's "understanding of the scope of the investigation."

Rep. Steve Chabot, an Ohio Republican, told Rosenstein that the American people deserve an unbiased team.

Rosenstein says there's a difference between political affiliation and political bias. He says Justice Department officials are entitled to political views but cannot allow them to influence their actions.

Rosenstein appointed Mueller to head the Russia probe after Trump fired then-FBI Director James Comey.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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