deputy attorney general rod rosenstein double today tell congress stand memo write white house cite justification fire last week fbi director jam comey.in closed-door meet lawmakers thursday friday rosenstein say write memo president donald trump tell one day may fire want dismiss comey say though personally fond comey think appropriate seek new leader justice department friday issue transcript rosenstein remark open statement good afternoon welcome opportunity discuss role removal fbi director jam comey although know understand discuss special counsel ongoing investigation importantly want emphasize unshakeable commitment protect integrity every federal criminal investigation never never political interference matter supervision unite state department justice.before discuss events past two weeks want provide background previous relationship former director comey know jim comey since approximately 2002 2005 mr. comey deputy attorney general participate select serve u.s. attorney federal prosecutor role model speeches leadership public service inspire me.on july 2016 director comey hold press conference concern federal grand jury investigation secretary clinton email start press conference director state coordinate review statement way department justice know say director comey go declare would publicly disclose find recommend department justice proceed disclose detail evidence assert american people deserve know detail declare reasonable prosecutor would file charge criticize secretary clinton.i think july press conference profoundly wrong unfair department justice secretary clinton explicitly usurp role attorney general deputy attorney general entire department justice violate deeply engrained rule traditions guarantee people would accuse fbi interfere election.there lawful appropriate mechanisms deal unusual circumstances public confidence rule law may jeopardize mechanisms preserve traditional balance power investigators prosecutors protect right citizens.director comey attend maryland u.s. attorney office train seminar october 27 2016 give detail explanation reason make public statements conclusion secretary clinton email investigation strongly disagree analysis believe make decisions good faith.the next day october 28 mr. comey send letter congress announce fbi reopen clinton email investigation subsequently say believe obligate send letter completely disagree usurp authority department justice send letter objection department justice flout rule deeply engrained traditions guarantee people would accuse fbi interfere election.before senate judiciary committee may 2017 director comey testify oath public statements concern secretary clinton email investigation strongly disagree explanations particularly assertion maintain confidentiality criminal investigations constitute concealment nonetheless respect personally.former department justice officials political party criticize director comey decisions isolate mistake series public statements email investigation opinion depart proper role fbi director damage public confidence bureau department.in one first meet then-senator jeff sessions last winter discuss need new leadership fbi among concern recall restore credibility fbi respect establish authority department justice limit public statements eliminate leaks.on may learn president trump intend remove director comey seek advice input notwithstanding personal affection director comey think appropriate seek new leader.i write brief memorandum attorney general summarize longstanding concern director comey public statements concern secretary clinton email investigation.i choose issue include memorandum.before finalize memorandum may ask senior career attorney staff review attorney ethics expert work office deputy attorney general multiple administrations familiar issue inform senior attorney president go remove director comey write memorandum attorney general summarize concern want confirm everything memorandum accurate concur point raise memorandum also ask several career department attorneys review memorandum provide edits.my memorandum legal brief issue law.my memorandum find official misconduct inspector general render judgment issue due course.my memorandum statement reason justify for-cause termination.my memorandum survey fbi morale performance.my memorandum press release.it candid internal memorandum fbi director public statements concern high-profile criminal investigation.i send sign memorandum attorney general noon tuesday may 9.i write believe stand it.finally want address media claim fbi ask additional resources investigation russian interference 2016 presidential election aware request moreover consult staff act fbi director andrew mccabe none recall request.end transcriptthe white house struggle since comey fire explain chain events lead exactly make decision trump say recently thursday act strong recommendation rosenstein rosenstein make clear congress draft memo trump tell plan dismiss fbi director.he say intend document find misconduct statement reason justify fire add write believe stand via nbc chicago deputy attorney general double comey memo write believe stand