TRANSCRIPT:
GAETZ: “The FISA renewal you signed lists for me the people who briefed you on the substance of that FISA renewal to go and spy on people.”
ROSENSTEIN: “Here is one thing important for you to understand. People can make all kinds of allegations publicly. I am quite confident about my conduct throughout this investigation. That matter is under review by the inspector general. We’ll see what he finds.”
GAETZ: “Did you read the FISA application before you signed it? You won’t say to this committee whether you read the document you signed that authorized spying on people associated with the Trump campaign?”
ROSENSTEIN: “I dispute your characterization of what the FISA is about. I’ll be happy to discuss the details with you but as I told you, sir.”
GAETZ: “Did Peter Strzok brief you on it or Lisa Page?”
ROSENSTEIN: “No.”
GAETZ: “Did Sally Moyer or Tricia Anderson brief you on it.”
ROSENSTEIN: “No F.B.I. People briefed me on it. The FISA renewals are sworn under oath by a career federal agent. I’m not the affect. I’ll explain the process.”
GAETZ: “Did you thoroughly review it?”
CHAIRMAN: “The time of the gentleman has expired. The witness will be permitted to answer the question.”
ROSENSTEIN: “I want to explain the process and director WRAY can explain it too. My responsibility was to approve the filing of FISA applications. Three people in the department can do that who at the time the position was vacant. My responsibility to do that. I have fortunately been relieved of that responsibility. Mr. WRAY does it every day. We sit down with a team of attorneys from the department of justice all of whom review that, provide a briefing for us about what’s in it and I reviewed that one in some detail and can tell you that the information that is public about that doesn’t match with my understanding of the one that I signed. But I think it’s appropriate to let the inspector general complete the investigation. These are serious allegations. I’m reviewing the finished product. The inspector general finds I did something wrong I’ll respect that judgment. I think it’s highly unlikely given the way the process works.”
GAETZ: “Yield back.”