Rosenstein Admits Law Enforcement “Mistakes” Led to Trump Surveillance

Rosenstein on Wednesday acknowledged the mistakes that law enforcement officials made by scrutinizing ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia. This would later lead to a full-blown investigation into the alleged affair, which yielded no concrete evidence, conclusions or results. Despite that, Rosenstein defended his appointment of former special counsel Robert Mueller to the probe, as well approving it in the first place, based on the information he had. 

Rosenstein and the Russian Investigation 

Rosenstein’s appearance is the first in a series in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as more hearings scrutinizing the FBI’s Russia Investigation and involved officials are expected. Subpoena authority is expected to be granted this week, as Republicans say there are many damaging findings of the probe from an inspector general review. 

“I do not consider the investigation to be corrupt, but I understand the president’s frustration given the outcome that there was no evidence,” Rosenstein told lawmakers. 

Trump and his allies are looking at the Russia probe once again, as newly declassified info got out, that Trump and associates were unfairly targeted and pursued. The Justice Department also dismissed the case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn. 

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., questioned Mueller’s appointment to the investigation, to which Rosenstein responded that he believed that at the time, there was sufficient basis for the probe in May 2017. Graham asked if Rosenstein would agree that by August there was “nothing there,” to which the former Deputy Attorney General said yes. 

Democrats lashed out at the hearing’s political and retrospective nature, saying that it’s all just another attempt of Republicans to move attention away from the ongoing riots and the coronavirus pandemic. 

Rosenstein was repeatedly asked about his decision to approve the fourth and final application for a warrant to spy on Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, who was suspected of being a Russian agent, although no charges were ever issued, and many errors and omissions were found in the FBI’s applications. 

Rosenstein said that he would never have signed the warrant if he knew what he knows now,