Two House Freedom Caucus leaders reportedly want the Justice Department's internal watchdog to investigate whether Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein threatened congressional aides.
Reps. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., chairman of the conservative group, and its cofounder, Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, made the request in a letter Monday to Inspector General Michael Horowitz, The Washington Post reported.
"This notion Mr. Rosenstein threatened to use his official investigative powers as Deputy Attorney General to retaliate against rank-and-file staff members for sending written oversight requests raises concerns he has abused his authority in the context of this investigation," they wrote.
Both lawmakers have been critical of the Justice Department's handling of the 2016 campaign probes, and special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, the Post reported, noting only Rosenstein can dismiss Mueller for cause, though as a presidential appointee, Trump can remove Rosenstein himself at will.
The beef has even prompted talk of a possible impeachment of Rosenstein over what his prominent critics call a lack of transparency and cooperation with House Republican investigators.
But according to the Post, Monday's letter appears to have delayed any impeachment effort for the time being.
Rosenstein's alleged threats at a January meeting, delivered to Republican staff members for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, were first reported last month by Fox News, which noted the threats came in retaliation for committee oversight requests.
Rosenstein denied making any threats, the Post reported.
Horowitz issued a report last month after examining the Justice Department's conduct during the 2016 election, blasting former FBI director James Comey as well as agent Peter Strzok for their behavior during the 2016 probe into Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's email practices. He is now in the middle of a similar review of the Russia investigation.
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