REP. LIEU LEADS LETTER TO DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL ROSENSTEIN REQUESTING APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COUNSEL
Today, Representative Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County), along with Representatives Kathleen Rice and Stacey Plaskett, sent a letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein formally requesting the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate possible collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia. The Representatives – all former prosecutors – believe Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations compels Mr. Rosenstein to appoint a Special Counsel. As a result, the Representatives’ letter stresses that Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein must follow the procedures set forth in Part 600.1 of Title 28, which would cause him to appoint a Special Counsel immediately.
In the letter, the Representatives write:
“As former prosecutors, we know that governmental investigations must be independent and free of conflicts of interest. Because you serve at the pleasure of the President, it is our belief that you have a conflict of interest and cannot exercise true independence into an investigation that may implicate the President. Moreover, your significant role in the firing of FBI Director James Comey—who was leading a counterintelligence investigation into possible collusion between Trump associates and Russia—has placed you into direct conflict with the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation.”
“The Attorney General, or in cases in which the Attorney General is recused, the Acting Attorney General, will appoint a Special Counsel when he or she determines that criminal investigation of a person or matter is warranted and—(a) That investigation or prosecution of that person or matter by a United States Attorney’s Office or litigating Division of the Department of Justice would present a conflict of interest for the Department or other extraordinary circumstances; and (b) That under the circumstances, it would be in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to assume responsibility for the matter. CFR § 600.1.”
The full text of the letter can be found HERE.