I am now reading Rod Rosenstein's actual words, and so should you. Not his words, through the press, his real words. A thread. (His affidavit starts on page 39).
This affidavit was signed on Jan 17 under penalty of perjury. Lawyers take that penalty and that oath VERY SERIOUSLY. 
Affidavits filed in litigation can be expected to lean toward winning the case, but for Rod Rosenstein in 2020 (given Barr situation, this can be believed as as true as possible.
The DOJ Inspector General started an investigation into potentially improper DOJ employee conduct by FBI and Department leading up to 2016 election.
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS TRIGGERED BY COMEY and other other leakers over the HRC investigation.
In summer 2017, after RR had appointed Mueller to handle the most important investigation in US history, the IG told RR that TWO DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES used FBI phones to send "overt partisan" messages in violation of Dept Policy.
Take a moment to imagine yourself in this position. You are leading the DOJ's Trump/Russia investigation. The IG tells you there is hard evidence that key employees expressed overt anti-Trump bias while working on the investigation. And it's going to be in an IG report. UGH.
Both Strzok and Page were working on the "Russia election interference matter" WHEN RR APPOINTED SC MUELLER. Both of them. In real time.
Mueller had to remove Strzok from the SC Office. Why? To try to remove the stain of partisanship from the most important independent non political investigation in US History. And Strzok and Page jeopardized all of that.
And at least Page had the sense to LEAVE. Strzok KNEW ABOUT THE IG INVESTIGATION; KNEW HIS TEXTS WOULD BE REVEALED; AND STILL JOINED MUELLER'S TEAM. He must have known he potentially risked blowing up the whole thing.
On December 2, 2017 the press got wind via LEAKS (which RR absolutely hates) that there were inappropriate text messages. Both House and Senate request the text messages.
So Comey's (and other's) conduct starts and IG investigation, and the IG finds bad texts, and @RodRosenstein has Mueller on the job, AND THIS STORY BREAKS washingtonpost.com/world/national…
@RodRosenstein RR HATES leaks and he HATES violations of DOJ policy, and here he is left holding the bag on a horrifying story of DOJ political bias at a crucial time in the most important investigation in US history. Who is to blame? Comey; Strzok; Page and whoever leaked.
@RodRosenstein So RR follows procedure. ADAG (an Obama appointee and career official) requests the texts from the OIG. The OIG provides subset of discovered texts that "OIG identified as inappropriate and particularly troubling."
@RodRosenstein RR was scheduled to go before Congress on Dec 13. ON DECEMBER 12 he was told texts were ready for release to Congress; there was no basis to withhold; and relevant to oversight. ONE DAY BEFORE HIS TESTIMONY.
RR consults with staff and officials and is told NO GROUNDS TO WITHHOLD FROM CONGRESS, NOT PART OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
For those that say RR did same as Comey, this is the difference. Not part of criminal investigation. No grounds to withhold. Against DOJ policy to withhold. Comey was opposite - did involve criminal investigation and policy was to withhold. (I still believe Comey did his best)
RR also asked if privacy interests should prevent disclosure. Told "no" FBI phones subject to FBI review; inappropriate and intertwined with official duties; displayed potential bias; not that personal.
One day before testimony, concluded no valid reason to withhold. They considered withholding to make testimony easier - RR rejected that as not a valid reason and authorized release to Congress.
At this point in the narrative, DIRK EDITORIAL, it's a lot of coincidences that the texts are ready for release THE DAY BEFORE RR GOES TO CONGRESS and ALSO LEAKED TO PRESS. SMELLS LIKE A RAT AT THE DOJ WORKING WITH NUNES TO SCREW RR.
With only bad options available, Office of Public Affairs recommends release to avert Congress's weaponizing them "before, during and after" the hearing; avoid harm of "prolonged selective disclosures" and minimize appearance of a DOJ coverup to help FBI.
RR consulted counsel to make sure reveal would not violate Privacy Act. ADAG (Obama appointee) asked "Acting Chief Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer" (also career hired during Obama admin), who said disclosure would not violate law.
Remember - this ALL HAPPENED IN ONE DAY - so after consult and consideration RR authorized the texts to be shared with the media. As reported, this took place pretty late at night, which makes sense since they had to make this call all in one day.
On a personal note, imagine being RR, scheduled to testify in an oversight hearing before a hostile, mobbed up Congress under penalty of perjury and YOU HAVE TO SPEND THE WHOLE DAY DEALING WITH THIS STRZOK PAGE COMEY F UP. Maddening, and no wonder RR is annoyed at Comey.
So RR released to press at same time they went to Congress, because THAT WAS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE DOJ; THE PUBLIC and the DOJ's duty to "safeguard law enforcement information, protect public safety and national security," and respect privacy.
RR followed the law; followed DOJ policy; tried to assure safety, national security and the rule of law, and would have kept the texts secret if he believed disclosure was prohibited by law.
DS LEAD PIPE GUARANTEE: Every word of this affidavit is supported by layers and layers of contemporaneous, corroborating evidence. RR did every right thing on December 12 after being sandbagged into a horrific situation.
DS PERSONAL NOTE 2: The media coverage and the Twitter rage against RR is crazy. ALL AVAILABLE EVIDENCE that isn't just rank speculation shows that he followed the law and followed his oath to the best of his ability. I blame the mobsters for spreading disinfo, and I'm right
