Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Wednesday rejected the idea that political donations to Democrats by several members of special counsel Robert Mueller’s team shows they are biased against President Trump.
Several reports have said that nine of the 15 publicly identified lawyers on Mueller’s team made campaign contributions at the federal level, and that most of the money went to Democrats. Republicans say that creates an improper appearance of bias against Trump.
But Rosenstein dismissed that idea when asked about it at a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing.
“I’m not aware of any impropriety,” Rosenstein said when asked by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, about the donations. “We do have regulations and the special counsel is subject to all the department’s rules and subject to oversight by the department, including the inspector. I’m not aware of any violation of those rules by the special counsel employees.”
“So you don’t believe it creates the appears of impropriety?” Smith pushed.
“Appearance is to some extent in the eye of the beholder,” Rosenstein replied. “We apply the department’s rules and regulations and make determinations, and we do have career ethics advisors that provide counsel about that.”
Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, also asked about donations by Mueller’s team. He listed the lawyers by name, and how much and to whom they donated during prior presidential elections.
“How can you say with a straight face that this group of Democrat partisans are unbiased and will give President Trump a fair shake?” Chabot asked.
“[W]hen we talk about political affiliation, that all demonstrates [is] political affiliation,” Rosenstein replied. “The issue of bias is something different.”
Rosenstein said he’s discussed the issue with Mueller, and that “we recognize we have that we have employees with political opinions.”
“It’s our responsibility to make sure those opinions do not influence their actions,” he continued. “I believe that Director Mueller understands that and he is running that office appropriately: recognizing that people have political views but ensuring those views are not in any way a factor in how they conduct themselves in office.”
