Rod Rosenstein: Trump postpones meeting with deputy attorney general with rumours president will fire him

Mr Rosenstein oversees the special counsel investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, which Mr Trump has repeatedly called a 'witch hunt'

Donald Trump says he will be meeting with Rod Rosenstein on Thursday

President Donald Trump has postponed his planned meeting with embattled Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein — rescheduling the tête-a-tête that could shape up to be one of the most consequential moments of this presidency so far.

Rumours have circulated that Mr Rosenstein may be on the way out after it was reported by The New York Times last week that the Justice Department’s second in command had suggested secretly recording the president, and discussed an effort to recruit cabinet members in order to invoke the 25th amendment to declare Mr Trump unfit for office and toss him from the Oval Office.

Mr Rosenstein holds authority over the Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election meddling because Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself citing Justice Department protocol to stay out of investigations into campaigns in which individual officials were involved. He had met Russian officials when part of Mr Trump's campaign.

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[27 September 2018 15:45 · Clark Mindock]

Hello and thank you for joining us for our live coverage of Mr Rosenstein's visit to the White House today where the future of his career at the Justice Department is to be determined.

[27 September 2018 15:47 · Clark Mindock]

We have seen a lot of conflicting reports in recent days, with Mr Trump indicating at times that he would prefer to keep Mr Rosenstein on in the Justice Department, and that he may delay the meeting.

It appears that the meeting has not been delayed, however, as White House reporters have begun tweeting that the deputy attorney general has arrived for the meeting.

[27 September 2018 15:51 · Clark Mindock]

While it appears that Mr Rosenstein has arrived at the White House for the meeting — in spite of rumours it may be rescheduled — that does not mean that it will go forward on time.

Mr Trump is known for making people wait. We will see if the president forces his attorney general to twiddle his thumbs for a few hours before finding out his future with the Justice Department.

[27 September 2018 15:55 · Clark Mindock]

Today is shaping up to be one for the books, and the Rosenstein-Trump meeting is not the only thing you may want to be taking a look at.

The Independent is also providing live coverage of the Supreme Court nomination hearing, where Dr Christine Blasey Ford — who has accused nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault — is testifying before the Senate Judiciary Panel.

It was rumoured that Mr Trump may delay or cancel his meeting with Ms Rosenstein because of that highly anticipated hearing.

Here is our live coverage of that hearing:

[27 September 2018 16:09 · Clark Mindock]

Mr Rosenstein faces other threats to his job, aside from the potential that Mr Trump may ask for his resignation or fire him.

Representative Jim Jordan, a Republican who once had a heated exchange with Mr Rosenstein at a House Judiciary Committee hearing last month, has introduced articles of impeachment against the man.

Mr Jordan, alongside several other colleagues, claims that Mr Rosenstein intentionally withheld embarrassing documents and information from Congress, that he failed to comply with congressional subpoenas, and abused the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Articles of impeachment do not in and of themselves mean much, however, and can drafted by any member of the House as a political stunt to send a message.

[27 September 2018 16:47 · Clark Mindock]

Mr Rosenstein has reportedly returned to the Justice Department after his visit to the White House, and it is not clear whether his meeting with the president has been rescheduled for later in the day.

[27 September 2018 17:46 · Clark Mindock]

There it is folks, the White House has postponed Mr Trump's meeting with Mr Rosenstein this afternoon.

Citing an interest in not interfering with the ongoing hearing where Dr Christine Blasey Ford — who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh  — is testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"The President spoke with Rod Rosenstein a few minutes ago and they plan to meet next week. They do not want to do anything to interfere with the hearing,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters.