Impeachment aimed at disrupting Trump-Russia probe

REPUBLICAN politicians have introduced articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney-General Rod Rosenstein.

He’s the chief Justice Department figure overseeing investigations into allegations of collusion between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential election campaign.

The move by Trump supporters Mark Meadows (North Carolina) and Jim Jordan (Ohio) marks a dramatic escalation in the battle between the White House and investigators.

It is also expected to force key Republican leaders to choose sides after many of them have sought to distance themselves from the controversial President’s moves to protect himself.

But the two representatives have not yet forced Congress to vote on their measure, setting up an intense political dilemma for their own Republican party.

House Republicans have been intensifying their attacks on Deputy Attorney-General Rosenstein and special counsel Robert Mueller in recent weeks amid fresh scandals surrounding Trump’s special relationship with Russian President Putin, as well as the release of recordings purporting to show Trump attempting to silence a former Playboy model from revealing an affair.

House Republicans have criticised Rosenstein for not being responsive enough in relation to the Russia investigation as well as a closed investigation into Democrat Hillary Clinton’s emails. They accuse Rosenstein of withholding documents and of being insufficiently transparent in his leadership of the investigation.

This does not mean Rosenstein faces immediate impeachment. Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan has not signed off on the legislation. And there will be no formal sitting sessions for at least another month.

Democrats argue the move is little more than an attempt to damage the investigation into Trump’s dealings.