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Biggs, Gosar join calls in U.S. House to impeach Deputy AG Rosenstein

July 26, 2017

Two Arizona congressmen joined the call Wednesday from some of the most conservative lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach Rod Rosenstein, the nation's No. 2-ranking law-enforcement officer.

U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar were among nine Republican members of the House who co-sponsored a resolution to begin the process to remove Rosenstein.

Two leaders of the House Freedom Caucus introduced the resolution to remove Rosenstein, who they see as defying Congress by withholding documents relating to the ongoing investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The measure is sure to intensify the growing battle over special counsel Robert Mueller's probe. Since U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Mueller investigation, Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, effectively presides over the matter that has bedeviled President Donald Trump.

Trump continues to denounce Mueller's investigation as a "witch hunt," and some Democrats have openly pondered impeaching Trump as an election issue.

The latest effort from the Freedom Caucus further raises the stakes. Democrats have said the attacks on Rosenstein are intended to undermine the Mueller investigation.

It was not immediately clear if Arizona's two other members of the Freedom Caucus — Republican U.S. Reps. Debbie Lesko and David Schweikert — also backed Rosenstein's impeachment.

"Mr. Rosenstein's Department is subject to constitutional checks and balances," Biggs wrote in a tweet. "I call on my colleagues to assert our constitutional responsibility and approve these articles of impeachment."

Biggs said Rosenstein resisted and defied congressional oversight. "His time to obstruct our investigations has expired," Biggs said.

Gosar, in a tweet Wednesday, accused Rosenstein of "obstruction and reckless actions.''

In a statement issued separately, Gosar said Rosenstein "has repeatedly failed to deliver requested documents, ignored subpoenas and ultimately stonewalled Congress.''

The resolution is led by U.S. Reps. Mark Meadows of North Carolina and Jim Jordan of Ohio, who head the Freedom Caucus, which has about three dozen Republican members.

Meadows tweeted: "I just filed a resolution with (Jordan) and several colleagues to impeach Rod Rosenstein. The (Justice Department) has continued to hide information from Congress and repeatedly obstructed oversight — even defying multiple Congressional subpoenas. We have had enough."

Democrats such as U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota were predictably unimpressed with the impeachment effort.

"Sucking up to dictators who hacked our elections, paying hush money to sex workers, lying about it, and more. No discussion of any accountability. Rosenstein does his job? Impeachment. What has the modern Republican Party become? My my," Ellison said.