Whether real, false or mischaracterized, Republicans are nonetheless seething over whatever Rod Rosenstein said that caused House intelligence committee staffers to be "physically shaking" with fear, Fox News reports.
Fox reported Tuesday that Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, threatened panel staffers with subpoenas during a January meeting in retaliation for their pursuit of documents related to the Russia probe.
Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz on Wednesday said those threats were very very real.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions late Tuesday said Rosenstein's comments were mischaracterized.
Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan said he was "flabbergasted" that Sessions could be so nonchalant about such a grievous event.
“What is the attorney general saying?" Jordan said Tuesday night on "The Ingraham Angle." "Rod Rosenstein was threatening members of the House Intelligence Committee for doing their job, for trying to get answers for the American people and the attorney general says 'that's OK, we’re doing just fine?'"
In its report, Fox News cited one intel staffer saying that Rosenstein launched a “sustained personal attack against another congressional staffer in retaliation for vigorous" oversight” and called the threats “downright chilling.”
However, a DOJ official told Fox News that Rosenstein "never threatened anyone in the room with a criminal investigation," calling the allegations "false."
"The Deputy Attorney General was making the point - after being threatened with contempt - that as an American citizen charged with the offense of contempt of Congress, he would have the right to defend himself, including requesting production of relevant emails and text messages and calling them as witnesses to demonstrate that their allegations are false," the official told Fox News. “That is why he put them on notice to retain relevant emails and text messages, and he hopes they did so."