We all knew the negotiations between deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein and FBI director Christopher Wray and the House Intelligence Committee were testy but it seems it may have gotten testier than expected.

In a meeting with Chairman Devin Nunes, FBI Director Christopher Wray and others, the source says that Rosenstein threatened to subpoena the texts and emails of Congress because he was”tired of dealing with the Intelligence Committee.” If true, Rosenstein must resign or be fired

— Gregg Jarrett (@GreggJarrett) February 3, 2018

It is a crime for a government official to use his office to threaten anyone, including a member of Congress, for exercising a constitutionally protected right. See 18 USC 242 and other similar abuse of power statutes.

— Gregg Jarrett (@GreggJarrett) February 3, 2018

Nunes was exercising his constitutional oversight authority by investigating alleged wrongdoing in the FBI and DOJ. Rosenstein, according to the source, threatened to use his power to retaliate against Nunes and others in an effort to intimidate them and stop their legal efforts

— Gregg Jarrett (@GreggJarrett) February 3, 2018

Again, if true, Rosenstein’s action was an illegal abuse of power and he should no longer serve as Deputy Attorney General. He allegedly used threats to try to stop the Intelligence Committee from exposing wrongful behavior in an attempt to cover it up.

— Gregg Jarrett (@GreggJarrett) February 3, 2018

A 2nd source has now confirmed to me that, in a meeting on January 10, Deputy A-G Rosenstein used the power of his office to threaten to subpoena the calls & texts of the Intel Committee to get it to stop it’s investigation of DOJ and FBI. Likely an Abuse of Power & Obstruction.

— Gregg Jarrett (@GreggJarrett) February 3, 2018

As I said, the fact that this is anonymous means that it is absolutely true.

IF this is true, Rosenstein should be told to pack his bags and leave. What I THINK happened is the House demanded text/email from various people and told him a subpoena was coming and he, in a heated discussion, said something like “how would you like it if I had a subpoena issued for your text messages.” I say this because of all the adjectives that come to mind when I see Rosenstein “ballsy” is not one of them. Maybe he’s tough on some kid slinging crack on a street corner but he doesn’t have the huevos to tell a committee chairman that in the context of a serious threat.

Having said that, I think Rosenstein needs to go. I think he’s too closely associated with Mueller to supervise him. I don’t think there is any evidence he is supervising him. I don’t think he’s a value add to the Department of Justice. They need to find him a nice job on a federal appeals court and move him on. And they should detail Scott Pruitt from EPA to Justice as deputy attorney general for 240 days and apply some shock and awe.