Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein Rod RosensteinDOJ kept investigators from completing probe of Trump ties to Russia: report Five takeaways from final Senate Intel Russia report FBI officials hid copies of Russia probe documents fearing Trump interference: book MORE explained Friday why he appeared behind Attorney General William Barr Bill BarrHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Hillicon Valley: DOJ proposes tech liability shield reform to Congress | Treasury sanctions individuals, groups tied to Russian malign influence activities | House Republican introduces bill to set standards for self-driving cars McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE with a deadpan expression during last week's press conference following the release of special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's report.

During his remarks Friday to the Armenian Bar Association, Rosenstein joked that members of the media would question his behavior regardless of how he appeared to act during the news conference.

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“Last week, the big topic of discussion was: ‘What were you thinking when you stood behind Bill Barr at that press conference with a deadpan expression?’ The answer is: I was thinking, 'My job is to stand here with a deadpan expression,'" Rosenstein said Friday, to applause.

“Can you imagine if I did anything other than stand there at the press conference? Imagine the reaction and the commentary if I had smiled or grimaced,” the deputy attorney general continued.

“But you cannot avoid criticism," he said. "The only way you can avoid criticism in public service is if you stay home. But somebody actually has to do the work, and therefore you have to accept the criticism that comes with the job.”

A former federal prosecutor remarked on Hill.TV last week that Rosenstein looked like a "hostage" during the news conference, at which Barr defended his characterization of Mueller's report amid criticism from Democrats that his summary of the investigation released last month was misleading.

"First off, [Deputy Attorney General] Rod Rosenstein looked like he was a hostage for God's sakes. Did you see his eyes?" Gene Rossi told Krystal Ball and Buck Sexton on Hill.TV's "Rising."

"I saw those two people behind Barr, I'm thinking to myself, where's Robert Mueller?" he added.

Rosenstein has defended Barr amid the criticism and knocked Democrats earlier this month who accused the attorney general of misleading the public.

“He’s being as forthcoming as he can, and so this notion that he’s trying to mislead people, I think, is just completely bizarre,” he told The Wall Street Journal.