Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein joined Attorney General William Barr at the podium Thursday for Barr’s news conference to talk about Robert Mueller’s special counsel’s report on Russia interference into the 2016 election.
At the news conference, Barr stated what he said was the “bottom line” of the report: No collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian government hackers.
But Rosenstein stared blankly, and did not blink at times, for the duration of the news conference. People on Twitter took note.
why is rod rosenstein looking directly at me
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) April 18, 2019
Is it me or does Rod Rosenstein look like he's being held hostage?
— Jonathan Capehart (@CapehartJ) April 18, 2019
I would NOT want to take on Rod Rosenstein in a staring contest. pic.twitter.com/MwNE67gvPg
— Chris Tye (@TVTye) April 18, 2019
Blink twice if you are ok Rod Rosenstein
— Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) April 18, 2019
And yet, I’m still excited about playing Rod Rosenstein in the movie. https://t.co/9eR2DIB14f
— Jon Cryer (@MrJonCryer) April 18, 2019
Rod Rosenstein has gone full Bran Stark ? pic.twitter.com/Cwep98ZjZC
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) April 18, 2019
During his remarks, Barr thanked Rosenstein for his help throughout the process: “He had well-deserved plans to step back from public service that I interrupted by asking him to help in my transition. Rod has been an invaluable partner, and I am grateful that he was willing to help me and has been able to see the Special Counsel’s investigation to its conclusion. Thank you, Rod.”
The third man on the stage was Edward O’Callaghan, a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, who joined the Department of Justice earlier this month as a principal associate deputy attorney general.
Trump nominated Rosenstein to serve as Deputy Attorney General on Feb. 1, 2017. But since then, the president has attacked Rosenstein on several occasions. He was set to step down from the Justice Department last month.
PBS NewsHour posted video of the news conference.
WATCH LIVE: Attorney General William Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein hold a news conference to discuss special counsel Robert Mueller's report. A redacted version of the report is expected to be made public later today. https://t.co/1OvqZbwR2Z
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) April 18, 2019
