Democrat says Rosenstein was being sarcastic about wearing a wire on Trump

Rep. Steven Cohen (D-Tenn.) said Wednesday that he believes Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was expressing sarcasm when he reportedly offered to wear a wire to record his conversations with President Trump.

“I suspect he’s telling the truth that it was facetious. I think he said it, and I think he kind of says he said it, but he said it sarcastically, and from what I’ve read he kinda said, ‘what do you want me to do? What do I have to do, wear a wire?” Cohen told Hill.TV’s Buck Sexton and Krystal Ball on “Rising.”

Cohen said that regardless of whether Rosenstein was being sarcastic, it could end with his dismissal.

“I think he created a difficult situation with him and the president, and I think the president will fire him,” he said.

Trump is set to meet with Rosenstein on Thursday, days after the Justice official charged with overseeing special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation went to the White House expecting to be fired.

The New York Times reported last week that Rosenstein had talked about secretly recording Trump in the Oval Office, and had discussed the possibility of the Cabinet using the 25th Amendment to oust the president from office.

Rosenstein responded to the report, calling it inaccurate, and saying there is no basis to use the 25th amendment.

House Republicans have called on Rosenstein to testify under oath about the report.

“I imagine we will have him before Congress, and he’ll have his day with Mr. [Jim] Jordan [R-Oh.], and Mr. [Matt] Gaetz [R-Fla.],” Cohen said.

— Julia Manchester