The White House on Tuesday brushed off 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's assertion that the Justice Department would not be "extorted," saying that the remark had "nothing to do with" the administration.

"You're going to have to ask Mr. Rosenstein about that. That has nothing to do with us," White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said on CNN.

Speaking at the Newseum in Washington earlier Tuesday, Rosenstein responded to a question about the articles of impeachment that had been drafted against him by congressional allies of President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE.

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"There have been people who have been making threats privately and publicly against me for quite some time and I think they should understand by now the Department of Justice is not going to be extorted," Rosenstein said.

The remark raised speculation about whether Rosenstein may have been referring to Trump, who has publicly criticized the deputy attorney general, particularly for his role overseeing the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Gidley, however, rejected that suggestion.

"Obviously you're going to have to ask Congress about their willingness to draft these articles of impeachment," Gidley said. "But obviously, that has nothing to do with us here at the White House. We're moving along and cooperating in every way possible."

Trump has long bristled at the Russia investigation, which is being carried out by 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. Rumors have swirled for months that Trump could move to dismiss Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller last year.