U.S. Reps. Mark Meadows (R-NC) and Jim Jordan (R-OH) have just introduced Articles of Impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. It is a dramatic and stunning move, one many see as another attempt by Trump-supporting Republicans to end the Mueller probe.

“House Republicans have been ramping up their attacks on the deputy attorney general in recent weeks, accusing him of withholding documents and being insufficiently transparent in his handling of the probe led by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III,” The Washington Post reports.

Meadows and Jordan are the leaders of the extremist House Freedom Caucus.

I just filed a resolution with @Jim_Jordan and several colleagues to impeach Rod Rosenstein. The DOJ has continued to hide information from Congress and repeatedly obstructed oversight–even defying multiple Congressional subpoenas.

We have had enough.

— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) July 25, 2018

A University of Texas law professor notes Trump has not directed the DOJ to order Rosenstein to hand over any documents, which supposedly is at the center of the controversy:

2018 keeps trying to out-2018 itself…

A Republican Congress attempting to impeach a Republican DAG for refusing to turn over documents that the Republican President hasn’t actually ordered his subordinate officer to turn over is, well, rich. https://t.co/G7XFSZdV4v

— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) July 25, 2018

The managing editor of the highly-respected Lawfare blog has been mocking the move:

I eagerly await the explanation of how these constitute high crimes and misdemeanors https://t.co/SJatnZh8K3

— Quinta Jurecic (@qjurecic) July 25, 2018

Mr. MEADOWS and MR. JORDAN, whom multiple people have credibly accused of ignoring the prolonged sexual abuse of children, submitted the following resolution,

— Quinta Jurecic (@qjurecic) July 25, 2018

More responses from legal experts (UPDATING):

The “reasons” for doing this make no sense, unless you’re looking for a way to end a righteous criminal investigation that has gotten a little bit too close for comfort. https://t.co/CQzlPbasKl

— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) July 25, 2018

(It’s almost like that’s not the real reason why House Republicans want to get rid of Rosenstein…)

— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) July 25, 2018

Sometimes the cover up is right out in the open. https://t.co/z9J5gLYKgl

— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) July 25, 2018

Sometimes the cover up is right out in the open. https://t.co/z9J5gLYKgl

— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) July 25, 2018

A writer at The Atlantic notes just how extraordinary this move is:

Impeachment has not been carried out against an executive branch employee in 122 years, and the constitution defines it as punishment for “treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors."
R’s are mad because he didn’t produce the documents they wanted quickly enough. https://t.co/lUdMLZQWqJ

— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) July 25, 2018

This is a breaking news and developing story. Details may change. This story will be updated, and NCRM will likely publish follow-up stories on this news. Stay tuned and refresh for updates.

After a day of confusing statements by Donald Trump and the White House, Fox News’ Shep Smith unequivocally declared that his reporting on the current administration is “without fear or favor.”

“We want to report without fear or favor and hold truth to power,” the host said following the president’s outlandish claim that he can pardon himself in case of indictment. “No matter who it is that’s in power.”

He proceeded to read from the U.S. Constitution’s clause about presidential pardons.

“He shall have the power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States,” Article II, section 2 reads. “Except in cases of impeachment.”

Nevertheless, Trump’s lawyers insist that he can self-pardon. Paired with White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ unwillingness to agree with the president’s legal team about the Trump Tower meeting, Smith outlined the difficulties of reporting on Trump’s version of the truth.

“When you get a competing set of facts, one of them completely untrue, and no way to get through it, from the highest elected authority in the land, from those who work for us — it’s very frustrating for journalists. It’s not partisan, this is about facts — and knowing that someone is telling the opposite of that.”

Watch below, via CNN:

President Donald Trump, who for over a year certainly has been acting like a man who is guilty and has plenty to hide, just announced he believes he has “the ABSOLUTE right” to pardon himself. He cites unnamed legal scholars, and adds he doesn’t need to invoke that supposed right – which many legal scholars dispute – because he hasn’t done anything wrong.

As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018

This is, perhaps, one of the more egregious actions Trump has taken in relation to the Mueller probe.

It comes barely more than 12 hours after the president’s personal attorney made a thinly-veiled threat against a former Director of the FBI. Sunday night, to great shock across the nation, Rudy Giuliani said President Trump could shoot former FBI Director Jim Comey and still not be prosecuted.

This is a breaking news and developing story. Details may change. This story will be updated, and NCRM will likely publish follow-up stories on this news. Stay tuned and refresh for updates.