Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 28 September 2018
White House postpones meeting between Trump, Rosenstein

By ERIC TUCKER But White House spokes- meeting, according to two
WASHINGTON (AP) — A woman Sarah Huckabee people familiar with the
highly anticipated meeting Sanders said the men conversations who spoke
between President Donald agreed to reschedule their on condition of anonymity
Trump and Deputy Attor- meeting because "they do to discuss private discus-
ney General Rod Rosen- not want to do anything to sions. Aides have advised
stein was postponed until interfere with the hearing." Trump against taking any
next week to avoid conflict- Amid speculation that extreme actions ahead of
ing with a dramatic Senate the meeting could result the midterm elections with
hearing involving Supreme in Rosenstein's dismissal his party's majorities in Con-
Court nominee Brett Ka- or resignation, Trump said gress already under threat.
vanaugh, the White House Wednesday that he would Friends and former col-
said Thursday. "certainly prefer not" to fire leagues of Rosenstein say
The two were set to meet Rosenstein and that the they don't expect him to
Thursday following news Justice Department's No. 2 step aside and give up
media reports that Rosen- official had denied making oversight of the Russia in-
stein last year discussed the remarks first attributed vestigation and the enor-
possibly secretly recording to him in a New York Times mous swath of Justice De-
the president and using the report. partment operations for
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein leaves his home on Constitution's 25th Amend- "I would much prefer keep- which he is responsible.
Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 in Bethesda, Md. ment to remove him from ing Rod Rosenstein," Trump Rosenstein, who has spent
Associated Press office. said at a news conference his entire career in gov-
in New York. "He said he did ernment, "has tremendous
not say it. He said he does loyalty to the department,"
not believe that. He said he said former Justice Depart-
has a lot of respect for me, ment lawyer and longtime
and he was very nice and friend James Trusty.
we'll see." "He's a very long-run, his-
Trump added, "My prefer- torical-minded guy in a lot
ence would be to keep of ways," Trusty said. "I think
him and to let him finish up." he may have some confi-
White House counselor dence that history will be
Kellyanne Conway would kinder to him than politi-
not say Thursday when cians are." Trump's remarks
the meeting would take Wednesday followed a
place, but stressed that chaotic period that began
the two will talk and Trump last Friday with reports that
has made clear "he would Rosenstein had last year dis-
prefer that the deputy at- cussed possibly secretly re-
torney general stay on the cording the president and
job and complete the job." invoking the Constitution to
Rosenstein is overseeing remove Trump from office.
special counsel Robert The Justice Department is-
Mueller's investigation into sued statements aimed
Russian interference in the at denying the reports, in-
2016 election, and his dis- cluding one that said the
missal would put that probe wiretap remark was meant
in jeopardy and create a sarcastically. Rosenstein
political storm. appointed Mueller in May
The meeting delay pro- 2017, oversees his work and
longs the uncertainty of has repeatedly defended
Rosenstein's status. Rosen- the breadth and scope
stein headed to the White of the probe. Trump has
House on Monday morning been critical of Rosenstein's
preparing to be fired and oversight of the probe, but
had discussed a possible the two have at times dis-
resignation over the week- played a warm working re-
end with White House offi- lationship, and Rosenstein
cials. But after meeting with has been spared some of
chief of staff John Kelly and the more personal and an-
speaking by phone with tagonistic broadsides lev-
Trump, he got a reprieve eled against Attorney Gen-
with the Trump meeting eral Jeff Sessions.
scheduled for Thursday. Though Rosenstein appears
Since then, the White poised to survive the week,
House has sought to tamp it's not clear how much lon-
down anxiety that Rosen- ger he'll be around. Trump
stein would be fired. has signaled that he may
White House officials called fire Sessions after the No-
senators Monday to say vember midterms, and
Trump had said he wouldn't Rosenstein could go with
be firing Rosenstein at the him.q