On Thursday, Deputy General Rod Rosenstein attempted to defend the officials at the Department of Justice (DOJ) by saying that they are required to make decisions that “do not please all the people all the time.”
According to Politico, Rosenstein did not mention the recent attempt by conservative lawmakers to impeach him, or special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
Rosenstein made his remarks at the American Bar Association’s annual meeting in Chicago where he received a minute-long standing ovation.
“President Trump selected a superb team of skilled and principled lawyers to lead the Department of Justice and our U.S. Attorney’s Offices,” Rosenstein said at the meeting.
“Our decisions do not please all the people all the time — in case you haven’t noticed,” he added to applause from the crowd, Politico reported.
Rosenstein also stated that the officials’ choices “always reflect the care, caution, and wisdom required by the law.”
“That is what the President appointed us to do. It is what the Senate confirmed us to do. It is what the oath of office obligates us to do,” he said.
Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers led by House Freedom Caucus leaders Representative Mark Meadows and Jim Jordan, introduced articles of impeachment against Rosenstein last month.
The Hill reported that Meadows backed off the effort one day later after pushback from GOP leaders, saying he will instead move to hold Rosenstein in contempt if the DOJ doesn’t turn over requested documents to Congress.
Rosenstein, who is overseeing Mueller’s probe into Russia’s election interference, has faced scrutiny from conservative lawmakers who allege some at the DOJ are biased against Trump.
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