Eric Holder was Obama’s ‘wingman’ but Trump can’t ask Rosenstein if he’s ‘on my team’

OPINION:

CNN journalists’ heads are collectively exploding over a “report” that states President Trump asked Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein if he was “on my team.” 

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein visited the White House in December seeking President Donald Trump’s help. The top Justice Department official in the Russia investigation wanted Trump’s support in fighting off document demands from House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes.

But the President had other priorities ahead of a key appearance by Rosenstein on the Hill, according to sources familiar with the meeting. Trump wanted to know where the special counsel’s Russia investigation was heading. And he wanted to know whether Rosenstein was “on my team.”

“Sources familiar with the meeting…”

The article - presented under the fancy THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION banner - goes on to suggest that this is anonymously sourced remark (when have anonymous sources ever let CNN down?) reportedly made in private is tantamount to obstruction of justice… or something. 

Now compare that sketchy report with the very public pledge of allegiancemade by President Obama’s Attorney General, Eric Holder, in 2013. Talking to a liberal radio host Holder responded to the rumors that he’d soon be stepping down from the Justice Department: 

“I’m still enjoying what I’m doing, there’s still work to be done.  I’m still the President’s wing-man, so I’m there with my boy.  So we’ll see”

At the time of Holder’s remarks (so no one can be accused of “whataboutism” in sycophantic defense of Donald Trump) Debra Heine contextualized AG Holder’s and President Obama’s chummy relationship: 

On June 20, 2012, Obama claimed executive privilege to cover Holder from releasing Fast and Furious documents sought by House investigators. The Obama administration got hundreds of Mexicans and one, (perhaps two) American law enforcement agents killed due to the criminally stupid gun running scheme, Fast and Furious.  So far, they’ve gotten away with it.

Nice to know how things work when the Attorney General is the president’s “wingman” and the president is the Attorney General’s “boy.”