Rosenstein’s supporters insist no threat was made and he merely stated that he has rights to and could respond to any charge with a move to subpoena emails, phone records and other documents from lawmakers and aides on the House Intelligence Committee. This is not the time for such threats. Oversight committees are supposed to make agencies uncomfortable. In the past, the intelligence committee were notorious for chummy relationship with the agencies and a distinct lack of oversight. Combining a failure to turn over material to an oversight committee with threats is an unwise decision.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions has objected that Rosenstein’s comments were misrepresented. That could well be the case, particularly in the difference between Rosenstein using his personal right to defend against a charge and his using a criminal subpoena. However, it was a mistake to make any type of threat in such meetings. You have to let it go as a high-ranking official.
The threat itself is less than credible. Courts have generally supported the oversight committee in their seeking documents and these allegations fall squarely within the oversight jurisdiction of the House committee.
