Letter to the Hon. Rod Rosenstein, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, U.S. Dept. of Justice - Sessions Recusal and Intel Report on Russian Cyberattacks

Letter

Dear Mr. Rosenstein:

As the Committee considers your pending nomination to be Deputy Attorney General, we request that you answer the following questions no later than [one week from date].

1. It is troubling that neither you nor Attorney General Sessions read the unclassified January 6 Intelligence Community Assessment entitled "Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent U.S. Elections" prior to your confirmation hearings. We appreciate that you made the commitment during your hearing that you would read the report. Do you accept the "Key Judgments" presented in the report? Please identify any areas of disagreement and explain the basis for your disagreement.

2. On March 2, Attorney General Sessions issued a public statement saying "I have decided to recuse myself from any existing or future investigations of any matters related in any way to the campaigns for President of the United States." In his March 6 letter to the Committee, Attorney General Sessions acknowledged our concerns as to "why [he] had not recused [himself] from "Russian contacts with the Trump transition team and administration.'" He then wrote "I understand the scope of the recusal described in the Department's press release would include any such matters." At your hearing Senator Durbin asked you to clarify your understanding of the scope of the Attorney General's recusal based on his plain language. Do you agree with Attorney General Sessions that he has recused himself from any existing or future investigations of any matters related in any way to Russian contacts with the Trump campaign, transition team and administration?

3. Have you communicated with anyone in the White House or Justice Department regarding Attorney General Sessions' recusal decision? If so, please identify the individuals with whom you communicated and what was discussed.

Thank you for your attention to these questions. We look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,