Round Two South of the 49th with my new CBC ID

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http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/fbi-director-deputy-attorney-general-republican-hearing-1.4726349

U.S. House Republicans shout down deputy attorney general at tense hearing

Rosenstein has become target for Trump allies for appointing Mueller to head Russia probe

Thomson Reuters · Posted: Jun 28, 2018 1:38 PM ET

1765 Comments 
Commenting is now closed for this story.



 
David R. Amos

Methinks it quite a tangle web you weave when you first set out to deceive N'esy Pas?

 
Alex Aggy

Oh yeah, that party that was complaining about how no one treats them with civility anymore... I wonder why

Michael Murphy

@Greg Gore (formerly Greggore)

You mean like when Harper refused to give the Afgan detainee documents? Yeah, people like you re-elected him

Matt Thuaii

@Michael Murphy

A few days ago when Harper publicly stood up for Canada and Trudeau, I actually gained a little respect for the man.

Now that he’s meeting with Trump behind everyone’s back, the thought I felt that way makes me feel kinda dirty.

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David R. Amos

@Michael Murphy "You mean like when Harper refused to give the Afgan detainee documents? Yeah, people like you re-elected him"

Methinks Harper won a majority mandate by default after been found in contempt because the liberals blew it bigtime. Iggy served Layton so many seats on a silver platter that if mindless Muclair had had some ethics and two clues between his ears he would be the PM today but instead he lost bigtime just like Iggy did N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@Matt Thuaii Methinks the recent judgement in my lawsuit against the Queen forever proves that most Canadian judges who were politically vetted by the Conservatives before being appointed to the bench don't understand what a conflict of interest is either N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@Matt Thuaii Me Too

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-travel-washington-larry-kudlow-1.4727170

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David R. Amos

@David R. Amos I see that CBC is still playing politics even after my contacts to their bosses today EH?

 
Adam Snelling

The Watergate investigation lasted two year and the one into Clinton four. Mueller's investigation has already led to some accusations. Unless someone is starting to feel the heat, the investigation should be left to run its course. If Trump and his entourage have done no wrong, why not just sit this out and be vindicated when it's finally over?

Andrew Hebda (NS)

@Adam Snelling
"Methinks that they do protest too much" B.S (a.k.a. W.S.)

David R. Amos

@Andrew Hebda (NS) Methinks that thou doth jest too much as you emulate Me Myself and I N'esy Pas?

 
Joseph Cluster

It seems a tad toxic down south.

David R. Amos

@Joseph Cluster Methinks it goes without saying that many folks on both sides of the 49th enjoyed watch the circus in Congress today N'esy Pas?

robert williams

@David R. Amos
I like that you start all your replies with me thinks and end with nesy pas. It makes it easy for me to recognize, and skip your posts.

David R. Amos

@robert williams Methinks I should feel honoured N'esy Pas?

 

Tim Joseph

GOP ought be a rotten stinking elephant carcass by the time the Trump Presidency runs its course. So enjoy your time Trump allies. Tempus fugit.

David R. Amos

@Nash Ruthen Methinks folks should pay attention Mean Ol Mitt in Utah He may be like Brutus was to Caesar N'esy Pas?

Charles Maturin

@David R. Amos

Who ended up in the ninth level of Hell being eaten by Satan.

Read Dante it will do you so much good

  
Graham Greene

Hahaha . . . .

And the Mueller investigation continues . . . . . .

Janie Veston

@Greg Gore (formerly Greggore) yep, only 14 indictments so far greggy.

David R. Amos 

@Graham Greene Methinks you are enjoying the Yankee circus even more than I am N'esy Pas?

 
Robert Lewis

"The Mueller investigation already has led to charges against Trump's former campaign chairman, his former national security adviser and several other people." ....Trey Gowdy "If you have evidence of any wrongdoing by any member of the Trump campaign, present it to the damn grand jury," ....ummm he has.

David R. Amos

@Tom Cooper "The charges laid have nothing to do with the 2016 election."

I'm glad you noticed

  
Randolph Neville

Trump must be very desperate now to send his lackeys in...News flash Trump, FACTS MATTER...Mueller is right on your tail.

David R. Amos

@Randolph Neville "Mueller is right on your tai"

Dream on Methinks "everybody in the know" knows that I dropped the docs on Mueller in Twitter again last week after I contacted Horowitz the latest Yankee IG. It ain't rocket science to find my Twitter account N'esy Pas?

  
Steven Arsenault

Is this not the basic tactics of trumpians and you see it on these boards. Attack, ignore facts and insult as much as you can to make it appear to the lowly informed that you are really doing your job. It is utterly shameful.

David R. Amos

@Steven Arsenault Methinks everybody and his dog knows that Gowdy and Jordan are definitely not "trumpians" N'esy Pas?

  
Marc Belanger

The yelling and posturing in what is supposed to be an official business, whether American, Canadian or any country for that matter, is so immature. There are countries where they even come to fists. We then tell children that they have to speak in turn. Disgraceful.

David R. Amos

@Marc Belanger "We then tell children that they have to speak in turn. Disgraceful."

What do we teach our children when we take them to the circus and laugh at the clowns?

 
Arthur Wellesley

Republicans eat their own. The not so United States of America banana republic at work.

David R. Amos

@Arthur Wellesley Methinks I am not alone when I claim that the Democrats are closet Republicans N'esy Pas?

Arthur Wellesley

@David R. Amos
Pas.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-travel-washington-larry-kudlow-1.4727170 

Stephen Harper expected to meet Trump's top economic adviser in Washington amid trade tensions

Sources tell CBC News the former prime minister is expected to meet with Larry Kudlow

Katie Simpson, Vassy Kapelos · CBC News · Posted: Jun 28, 2018 6:13 PM ET

5426 Comments 
Commenting is now closed for this story.

David R. Amos

Imagine is some serious political people in Washington read this comment section while Harper was making the rounds and stumbled upon this comment in particular. Methinks Harper and Trump would have some tough explaining to do to certain folks after they Googled the following N'esy Pas?

Trump Cohen NAFTA FATCA TPP David Amos

 
Mike McNair

The Ford Nation has a strong team of Cabinet Ministers. Maybe the Trump administration will deal directly with Ford Nation.

Dave Bear

@ Chris Maurier

Fishing much ?

David R. Amos

@Dave Bear Methinks Bears love to fish as much as Maritimers do N'esy Pas?

  

Pat Ferraro

Thank you sir for daring to go where fools dare to tread. At long last we sending in a seasoned warrior who has negotiated 3 trade deals and others ready for the LIberals to sign.

 

al mark

@Pat Ferraro - LOL, the quote is Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Thanx for confirming Harper is a fool.

David R. Amos

@al mark I concur

 

"POOF"
Justin Yagsi

That is fantastic. An actual living breathing man representing us instead of the usual gang of virtue signalling toddlers. The election can not get here fast enough !!!

 

David R. Amos

@Justin Yagsi "I will not debate a child"

Would you dare to debate a Grandfather?.

Fundy Royal, New Brunswick Debate – Federal Elections 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cFOKT6TlSE

  
"POOF" 
daryl tan

100,000 auto workers in Ontario are cheering Harper on.

Justin cannot get it done!

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Richard Sharp

@daryl tan

You have no idea what you are talking about. Auto workers are not even remotely associated with Harper's base. They lack the mean streak Harper and now Scheer play like a fiddle.

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David R. Amos

@Richard Sharp "They lack the mean streak Harper and now Scheer play like a fiddle"

Methinks that your buddy Gerry Butts knows that nobody loves the fiddle better than his fellow Maritimers N'esy Pas?

  
"POOF"  
Stew Gotz

I guess the conservatives were right all along, as it turns out Mr. Dressup just wasn't ready.

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David R. Amos

@Rob Lehtisaari "Stephen Harper's going rogue reflects on no one but Stephen Harper himself."

Methinks many political people and lots of ghosts would agree that the master of the prorogue has always been far more than a mere rogue N'esy Pas?

"POOF"  
Bill Clay

Easy Liberals. Harper won't talk about Gender balanced trade deals. Trudeau gets full credit for that one.

Rob Lehtisaari

@Bill Clay

I'm not a Liberal, I am an Independent Canadian, and see that Stephen Harper is working behind his Party's leader's back, as well as his nations people & Government.

It's not about credit, it's about respect & patriotism to Canada instead of US Republicanism.

David R. Amos

@Rob Lehtisaari "I'm not a Liberal, I am an Independent Canadian"

Me Too

Methinks that is why CBC denied that I ran in five elections thus far Before folks doubt me they should read the comment section in this old "News" story N'esy Pas?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276

  

"POOF"   
Roland Reimer

Thank God we have an adult going to bat for us.
Where's Trudeau?
Oh, on another personal day.

Karin Bougie

@Roland Reimer

He's actually meeting with bankers today......not sure if we should be happy or worried about that.....

David R. Amos 

@Karin Bougie "He's actually meeting with bankers today......not sure if we should be happy or worried about that....."

Those are the dudes he works for so he must get clued in in order to do their bidding. Why worry now or close the barn door after he horse has run off? Methinks folks should have been worried in June of 2004 when he went for the PM position the first time. In 2003 all the alarm bells and whistles should have went off when the new leader of the third party in the house went to Paris to meet the Bilderbergers. Harper is no longer a PM and no better than a cheap dime store hustler but just like Mulroney he is well paid for his world travels and secret pow wows because of his former position and connections N'esy Pas?






 
Dave Hanson

It can only go downhill from here, once Harper pokes his fingers into it. Guess his consultancy is not going very well, if he is trying to wade into trade talks where he has no formal authority. And on whose behalf will he be talking?

Nothing good can come of this, at least nothing good for Canadians. The move is sneaky and desperate.

Matt Thuaii

@Barney Miller

And there it is. “Trudy’s team”? Classy. Like him or not (you clearly don’t), Trudeau is our PM and he’s standing up for this country. Harper’s loyalty has always been to the regressives who put him in power and to his corporate masters...the same kinds of people Trump and his cronies serve.

...and that makes him and this meeting dangerous.

David R. Amos

@Matt Thuaii Methinks folks should start reading their emails and my lawsuits N'esy Pas?

 

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Margaret Bricknell

@David R. Amos
Muted for using that ridiculous phrase- Franglais.

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David R. Amos

@Margaret Bricknell Methinks you know that I am truly honoured that you hate me N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@mo bennett YO Mo you tell them. Methinks the liberal folks will listen ot you N'esy Pas?

Neil Turv

@Dave Hanson

It's not even necessarily a meeting on NAFTA.

Bolton and Harper worked together when Bolton was a UN ambassador, they are both members of Friends of Israel and an international group of right of centre political parties (IDU).

In the last Month Harper has also met with Biden and the Aga Khan, and several prominent UK cabinet ministers, this meeting is likely just as important.

David R. Amos

@Neil Turv "It's not even necessarily a meeting on NAFTA"

All true. Methinks that is why folks who truly care should pay attention as to what Harper and Bolton are up to knowing both of their histories. The bankers Harper is speaking for love war because they make money off of both sides of any conflict N'esy Pas?.

  
Dale Sullivan

We voted you out Harper. Canadians don't want you messing around in government business.

David R. Amos

@Dale Sullivan "Canadians don't want you messing around in government business"

I concur

mo bennett

@Dale Sullivan don't go away mad steve, just go away!

David R. Amos

@mo bennett "don't go away mad steve, just go away!"

YO Mo Methinks you are barking up the wrong tree now. Everybody knows that Steve doesn't feel the need to listen to anyone because he thinks he knows everything N'esy Pas?

Neil Turv

@Bill Nazarene

Why don't you politely and clearly explain why you accuse people of being alt-right using specific quotes and or examples of said behavior?
I'm trying to help you, not be mean; the law of diminishing returns states that in all productive processes, adding more of one factor of production, while holding all others constant ("ceteris paribus"), will at some point yield lower incremental per-unit returns.

In your case your factor is the flippant, inaccurate and indiscriminate use of your favorite buzz word which has increased while the others, (moderate people who don't share 100% of your opinion) has remained constant.

Then as the law goes, you get into negative returns, where your overuse is so prevalent and excessive you end up helping the other side.

Bill Nazarene

@Neil Turv

Glad I was able to help, Jethro.

The Party of Jim Keegstra, Malcolm Ross, Monika Schaefer, Kevin J. Johnston, Alexandre Bissonnette and Gabriel Sohier Chaput is happy to have you - even if you do look the other way and call yourself 'moderate'.

Bill Nazarene

@Neil Turv

p.s.: Look at you, flexing your GoogleU copy/paste muscles!

Gordon MacFarlane

@Bill Nazarene

This really is becoming a bore

Gordon MacFarlane

@mia stalling

Socks and selfies

Bill Nazarene

@Gordon MacFarlane

White socks only for the Alt-Reich crowd.

Gordon MacFarlane

@Bill Nazarene

The name isn't Cletus

Cross burning isn't funny

Bill Nazarene

@Gordon MacFarlane

"This really is becoming a bore"

Don't worry, Jethro. Call yourself 'moderate' and look the other way while your party panders the hateful & intolerant fringe swing-vote. It will be a good long time before they get down to loading you and everyone you love onto the back of that truck.

Bill Nazarene

@Gordon MacFarlane

Meanwhile, get ta mowin' that cross-burnin' field, Jethro!

It's the lonnnng weekend!!!

Ye-haw!!!

David R. Amos

@Bill Nazarene Methinks you must be relieved to get all that off your mind so you could enjoy Canada Day N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@Bill Nazarene "Look at you, flexing your GoogleU copy/paste muscles!"

Methinks after your lonnnng weekend Ye-hawing til you are hoarse Perhaps you should try Googling your name and mine sometime. Ya just never know what you will find on the Internet N'esy Pas?

  
Johanna Pontin

Stephen Harper is not our PM and has no authority. He has not been asked by our current government to intervene and is not welcome to do so!

David R. Amos

@Johanna Pontin Methinks a lot of folks don't that know that Harper works with the same law firm that Chretien does. So it would make no difference who our current government sent to do our bidding The same lawyers handle it N'esy Pas?

Troy Mann

@Jane Beagle

He lost the election Jane
Get over it
Time for Harper to realize he is causing more issues and not helping Canadians but we know he isn't about helping Canadians he is about helping Harper

David R. Amos

@Troy Mann YUP

 
Scott Etches

Trump's recent attacks on Trudeau are designed to divide Canada Brian Mulrouney was smart enough to stand behind our duly elected government and not to let it divide our country. If so we would be easy picking. Harper will sell Canada for political purposes, apparently. Divide and conquer leaves Canada at risk. Just don't do it. Canada First!

 

Richard Sharp

@Blanche Cote

This very article states Harper has criticized the Libs several times. Read much?

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David R. Amos

@Richard Sharp Methinks I read a lot more than the average bear and get quite a chuckle out of the fact that you never dare to reply to my queries N'esy Pas?

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David R. Amos

@Richard Sharp "This very article states Harper has criticized the Libs several times. Read much?"

Better yet did you read my reply before it went "Poof"???

Methinks some lawyers will get an email tomorrow wonder and why my response to you was "Content disabled" after it was read many times and disliked 10 times N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@Richard Sharp "Read much?"

Methinks you know I read everything My question should be did you? N'esy Pas?

  
David Sampson

Please stay home Stephen, you have already caused so much harm to Canada!

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David R. Amos

@David Sampson Methinks you may enjoy the personal Tweet I just sent Harper N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@David Sampson Methinks its blatantly obvious that certain parties do not appreciate it when I agree with you and offer you a tip you may enjoy knowing about N'esy Pas?

 
Robes Pierre

Maybe there's a mailroom opening there.

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David R. Amos

@Robes Pierre Methinks everybody "in the know" knows that the RCMP and the FBI are well aware I gave my documents to Harper's lawyer buddy in hand in June of 2004 members of the RCMP, one US Special Agent and many folks in Sussex NB watched me do it plus I have photos and legal documents to prove it N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@Robes Pierre Methinks that maybe Mr Harper worked in a mail-room for a certain reason At least the RCMP and I know for certain that he loses a lot of mail and emails for certain reasons N'esy Pas?

 
David Gloag

Harper is hoping to sell off Canada to the lowest bidder like he has always done.

michael flinn

@Chuck Barris Judging by Ontario, federal by-elections, polls etc I'd say his rhetoric and that of many others is working just fine.

David R. Amos

@michael flinn Methinks the recent federal by-election in Quebec was a rather telling thing N'esy Pas?

 

Jerry jordan

Harper is a free citizen . He can go anywhere he wants he can meet anybody he wants . It’s a free country so far but we are losing our rights totally and rapidly under Trudeau’s party. Harper need not answer to anybody. Just like the article says Chrétien was in cahoots with Russia. No big deal here.

Ross Johnson 

 @Jerry jordan Chretien should have been censored for his Russia trip (he was far from being in cahoots with them of course) in exactly the same way that Harper should be publically raked over the coals for that planned trip. It is in fact a very big deal when a defeated former PM with too much sensitive and even secret information on our country is meeting with a US National Security advisor as well as Kudlow and if you can't see why that is so then you have a big, big problem. What's he up to anyway and what does he, a private citizen, hope to accomplish?

David R. Amos

@Ross Johnson Well Put Sir

David R. Amos

@Guy Czaika "Just what rights are we losing under Trudea? Please name one."

Free Speech

David R. Amos

@Michael Murphy "You'll never get an answer"

Look up.

 
daryl tan

Good for Harper. Wish he was still PM.

Time for Justin to sit at the kiddies table and watch how a real PM gets NAFTA on track for Canada.

Sandy Gillis

@daryl tan
We already know how Harper would negotiate here, he told us all as much in his memo way back when this all got started.

He said he'd capitulate to everything Trump wanted and sign off on any terrible deal put in front of him, just so he could say he had a deal.

Or did you forget?

David R. Amos

@Sandy Gillis Methinks you of all people should know I have a long memory N'esy Pas?

Josh Tanner

@daryl tan

"watch how a real PM gets NAFTA on track for Canada"

hahahahahahahahahahahaha

At the beginning of the trade dispute Harper's genius idea was capitulation.... what a load!!!!!!

David R. Amos

@Josh Tanner Too Too Funny Indeed. Methinks thats the kind of thing that makes the circus well worth watching N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@Richard Sharp "They lack the mean streak Harper and now Scheer play like a fiddle"

Methinks you should tell us more Most Maritimers love to know who plays the fiddle well N'esy Paas?

 
Sergio Valachio

I thought we were rid of this twerp.

Guy Czaika

@Sergio Valachio Cockroaches always come back.

David R. Amos

@Sergio Valachio NOPE

David R. Amos

@Guy Czaika YUP

 
chelsea sinclair

Finally, an adult goes to Washington.

David R. Amos

@chelsea sinclair Methinks you have spoken just like a true blue reformacon N'esy Pas?

U.S. House Republicans shout down deputy attorney general at tense hearing

Rosenstein has become target for Trump allies for appointing Mueller to head Russia probe

Thomson Reuters · Posted: Jun 28, 2018 1:38 PM ET

Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, right, and FBI Director Christopher Wray testify before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday. (Yuri Gripas/Reuters)





Republicans accused top U.S. federal law enforcement officials Thursday of withholding important documents from them and demanded details about surveillance tactics during the Russia investigation in a contentious congressional hearing that capped days of mounting partisan complaints.

Underscoring their frustration, Republicans briefly put the hearing on hold so they could approve a resolution on the House floor demanding that the Justice Department turn over thousands of documents by next week.

The House Judiciary Committee hearing marked deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein's first appearance before Congress since an internal Department of Justice report criticizing the FBI's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation revealed new disparaging text messages among FBI officials about Donald Trump during the 2016 election. FBI director Christopher Wray also appeared before Congress on Thursday.

• Republican in Russia probe 'even more convinced' FBI didn't spy on Trump campaign

Republicans on the panel seized on the watchdog report to allege bias by the FBI and to discredit an investigation into potential ties between Russia and the Trump campaign that is now led by special counsel Robert Mueller. They suggested that the Justice Department had conspired against Trump by refusing to produce documents they believe would show improper FBI conduct.

Whatever you got, finish it the hell up.- Trey Gowdy , congressman from South Carolina

"This country is being hurt by it. We are being divided," Rep. Trey Gowdy, a South Carolina Republican, said of Mueller's investigation. Gowdy led a separate two-year investigation into the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, and Clinton's role in those attacks as secretary of state.

"Whatever you got," Gowdy added, "finish it the hell up because this country is being torn apart."

Attacks, allegations of bias

Rosenstein, at times raising his voice and pointing his finger, strongly defended himself and the department during the hours-long hearing, saying he was doing his best to balance congressional oversight with the need to preserve the integrity of ongoing investigations. He said despite Republican allegations, he was "not trying to hide anything."

"We are not in contempt of this Congress, and we are not going to be in contempt of this Congress," he said.

• Trump claims investigators with Russia probe are 'meddling' in midterm elections

The hearing came amid Republican attacks on the Justice Department and allegations of FBI bias against Trump. On Wednesday, lawmakers spent 11 hours behind closed doors grilling Peter Strzok, the FBI agent who worked on both the Clinton and Russia investigations and traded anti-Trump text messages with an FBI lawyer. The inspector general criticized the officials for creating an appearance of impropriety but did not find evidence that bias had tainted the decisions of prosecutors in the Clinton investigation.

Strzok is expected to return to the committee early next month for an open hearing. The FBI lawyer he texted with, Lisa Page, is also expected to talk to lawmakers.

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio questions Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as he and FBI Director Christopher Wray appear before a House judiciary committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday. (Andrew Harnik/Associated Press)

Deadline to turn over documents

The resolution that passed along party lines Thursday demanded that the department turn over by July 6 documents on FBI investigations into Clinton's private email use and Trump campaign ties to Russia.

Both investigations unfolded during the presidential election, causing the FBI — which prides itself on independence — to become entangled in presidential politics in ways that are continuing to shake out.
Republican Mark Meadows, from North Carolina, one of the sponsors of the resolution, did not deny Democratic assertions that the document requests were related to efforts to undercut Mueller's probe.

"Yes, when we get these documents, we believe that it will do away with this whole fiasco of what they call the Russian Trump collusion because there wasn't any," he said on the House floor.

• Trump lawyers composed secret letter to Mueller challenging subpoena: report

The House judiciary and intelligence panels, which have subpoenaed the documents, want to use the records as part of congressional investigations into the FBI's decision to clear Clinton in the email probe and its opening of an investigation into potential co-ordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The Justice Department has already turned over more than 800,000 documents to congressional committees, but the subpoenas are asking for additional materials, including records about any surveillance of Trump campaign associates. Lawmakers have threatened to hold top DOJ officials in contempt or vote to impeach them if the documents aren't turned over.

Heated exchanges

On the floor, lawmakers hurled insults as Republicans said Congress is entitled to whatever it wants.

"We have a petulant Department of Justice defended by a petulant Democratic Party," said Tom Garrett, a representative from Virginia.

We're caught up in this nonsense because they can't get over Hillary Clinton's emails. Get over it!- Jamie Raskin, Democratic representative from Maryland

Democrat Jamie Raskin or Maryland shot back: "We're caught up in this nonsense because they can't get over Hillary Clinton's emails. Get over it!"

Wray and Rosenstein said law enforcement officials have been working diligently to provide the records, though Republicans made clear their dissatisfaction at the pace.

"We have caught you hiding information from Congress," Republican Jim Jordan said at the hearing, an accusation Rosenstein strongly denied.

"I am the deputy attorney general of the United States, OK?" he said. "I'm not the person doing the redacting. I am responsible for responding to your concerns, as I have.

"Whenever you have brought issues to my attention, I have taken appropriate steps to remedy them," he added.

He also dismissed media reports that he had threatened to subpoena staff members of the House Intelligence Committee, saying to laughter, "There's no way to subpoena phone calls."

Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina questions Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday. (Andrew Harnik/Associated Press)

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte, a Republican from Virginia, signaled the hearing's tone in his opening remarks when he complained about the Justice Department's failure to produce all the requested documents.

"The Department of Justice and the FBI are not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. The president and Congress are," Goodlatte said.

Florida representative Ron DeSantis, a Republican, demanded to know why Rosenstein had not recused himself from overseeing Mueller's investigation into whether Trump had obstructed justice — given Rosenstein's role in laying the groundwork for the firing of FBI director James Comey.

Rosenstein's memo criticizing Comey's handling of the Clinton investigation was initially cited by the White House as justification for his firing.

"I can assure you that if it were appropriate for me to recuse, I'd be more than happy to do so and let somebody else handle this," Rosenstein said.​

• Analysis
  Trump says he can pardon himself of any crime. Here's why experts on authoritarianism are horrified

Stephen Harper expected to meet Trump's top economic adviser in Washington amid trade tensions

Sources tell CBC News the former prime minister is expected to meet with Larry Kudlow

Katie Simpson, Vassy Kapelos · CBC News · Posted: Jun 28, 2018 6:13 PM ET

Former prime minister Stephen Harper will travel to Washington to meet with Larry Kudlow, U.S. President Donald Trump's top economic adviser, sources tell CBC News. (Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press)



Former prime minister Stephen Harper is poised to meet with two top Trump administration officials in Washington against a backdrop of fractious talk over tariffs, CBC News has confirmed.

Harper is expected to travel to Washington on Monday, July 2, and has scheduled meetings with Larry Kudlow — the director of the National Economic Council and Trump's go-to economic adviser — and John Bolton, the president's national security adviser, according to multiple sources who spoke to CBC News on the condition of anonymity.

Kudlow, who recently suffered a heart attack but is now back on the job, was one of the president's surrogates who went on TV after the G7 summit in Charlevoix to attack Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally over his plan to impose retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. Kudlow is one of Trump's most trusted economic advisers.

Senior White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow calls on a reporter during a briefing about the G7 summit, at the White House in Washington on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. (Susan Walsh/Associated Press)

CTV News first reported Harper's planned meeting with Bolton in Washington, citing details contained in emails the broadcaster had obtained.

Sources told CBC News that Harper, who now works as a consultant after leaving federal politics, personally approached the two officials to ask for a meeting.

• 'Special place in hell': Trump advisers blast Trudeau for comments at G7 summit

• NEWS VIDEO
  Stephen Harper blasts Trudeau government's handling of NAFTA negotiations

• Analysis
  After a year of playing nice with Trump, Trudeau declares war on the American gherkin

Harper has not shied away from wading into the NAFTA talks, offering commentary on TV and at conferences. He has criticized some of the Liberal government's actions on the trade file while defending the NAFTA agreement itself.

Sources say that ahead of the meeting, Bolton phoned the Canadian embassy in Washington to make some arrangements — a call that caught Canadian officials off-guard as they were not expecting such a visit.

Adding to the confusion, say the sources, the White House did not specify which "prime minister" was expected for the meetings; the Americans often use political titles long after a politician has left office. That led some Canadian officials to believe a visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had been planned in secret.

Trudeau's foreign policy adviser, John Hannaford, contacted his counterpart in the White House, who apologized and explained it was former prime minister Harper who would be visiting.

That prompted confusion on the part of Trudeau's inner circle, the sources say, as it's customary for past prime ministers to keep their successor in the loop on foreign travel plans of this magnitude.

This was also an issue when Harper himself was in office and he had to contend with former prime minister Jean Chrétien travelling to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin during the Crimean crisis. Harper had taken a tough stand against Putin and his incursion into Ukrainian territory.

In addition to his consulting work, Harper meets often with international conservative leaders as chair of the International Democrat Union, an alliance of conservative and centre-right parties founded 35 years ago by Britain's Margaret Thatcher, Germany's Helmut Kohl and then-U.S. president George Bush Sr., among others

Stephen Harper ✔ @stephenharper

Thank you to President Pastrana for his invitation to join @CDI_IDC meetings in Brussels today. I appreciate all the interest in the #IDU this week, and as IDU Chairman I look forward to continuing to engage with conservatives globally wherever I travel. pic.twitter.com/GyItsomD88

5:48 PM - Jun 28, 2018

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Canada readies final tariff list

Relations between Canada and the U.S. have soured considerably in recent weeks after Trump slapped punitive tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel imports as part of his drive to protect the U.S. industry from what he claims is unfair foreign competition. His administration has sought to justify the tariffs on national security grounds.

• Final list of U.S. goods to be hit with retaliatory tariffs coming on Friday

A 25-per-cent tariff will be levied on Canadian steel, while a 10 per cent tariff will be applied to aluminum. In response, Canada has vowed to impose $16.5 billion worth of new tariffs on a host of U.S. goods, from lawnmowers to playing cards and felt-tipped pens.

The final list of U.S. goods to be taxed will be released tomorrow by Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and will take effect as of July 1.

With files from the CBC's John Paul Tasker