When asked whether he was supportive of Rod Rosenstein, Sen. Chuck Grassley (pictured) told reporters: "Yeah, I think so. But that doesn’t mean that I think he’s doing the right thing." | Win McNamee/Getty Images As Trump allies slam Rosenstein, Grassley offers some support

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Thursday expressed confidence in Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general in charge of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, but tempered his support with heated criticism for the Department of Justice.

Rosenstein has increasingly come under fire from President Donald Trump's allies after he reportedly authorized an FBI raid on Michael Cohen, Trump's longtime personal attorney. He also has been the target of Republican lawmakers' ire for not more quickly turning over an unredacted version of the two-page document that the FBI used to initiate its investigation of the Trump campaign’s Russia contacts.


When asked on Thursday whether he was supportive of Rosenstein, Grassley told reporters: "Yeah, I think so. But that doesn’t mean that I think he’s doing the right thing."

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The Iowan went on to raise his voice in warning DOJ officials of all stripes to take their responsibilities to respond to congressional oversight requests more seriously.

"I think all of the Justice Department, under Republicans and Democrats, do not keep their promise to us when they make a statement when they’re up for confirmation" that they will furnish requested information to Congress.

"They all turn out to be liars," Grassley said. "And they ought to really say ‘maybe’ if they want to be honest."

Among the Trump backers slamming Rosenstein in recent days are House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), who this week threatened impeachment proceedings against Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray unless DOJ turned over the pivotal Russia document, and Joseph diGenova, a former prosecutor once tapped to join Trump's team of lawyers. But House and Senate GOP leaders have defended Rosenstein, and Grassley joined their ranks Thursday.