How Justice leaders Rosen, Donoghue and Engel held the line against Trump in the run-up to Jan. 6
Jeffrey Rosen, Richard Donoghue and Steven Engel found themselves standing up to Donald Trump as he waged a relentless campaign to have the Justice Department help subvert Joe Biden's election.
Kevin Johnson- They were an unknown cadre of top aides proved to be crucial guardians of a wobbly democracy.
- The trio and others threatened to quit if Trump appointed a loyalist to head DOJ.
- Republican Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger praised them and warned they'd face criticism.
WASHINGTON – When Jeffrey Rosen arrived at the Justice Department as deputy attorney general in 2019, he did so as a relative unknown whose striking lack of prosecutorial experience drew sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers.
A former top official at the Transportation Department, Rosen was replacing Rod Rosenstein, whose tumultuous tenure had been inextricably linked to the Russia investigation and who had become a punching bag for then-President Donald Trump.
A few months after his confirmation, Rosen would acknowledge his role as "the new guy," adding that the experience deficit had so far presented few problems.
"You know, it’s always risky to assume that you know what you don’t know," he said in an interview with USA TODAY shortly after taking office. "So, I’m sure there are things I don’t know... ”
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