2016 ELECTION/JUSTICE DEPARTMENT/RUSSIA: “A career Justice Department lawyer who has specialized in organized-crime issues was recently transferred from the deputy attorney general’s office to another division because he failed to inform officials of a September 2016 meeting with the author of a controversial dossier on then-candidate Donald Trump, people familiar with the matter said.
Bruce Ohr, 55 years old, was never involved in the Justice Department’s probe into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election, according to current and former Justice Department officials. His 2016 meeting has been criticized by President Trump’s allies, who have raised ethical concerns about some Justice Department staff as Special Counsel Robert Mueller proceeds with the Russia investigation.
Supporters of Mr. Mueller’s investigation dismiss the criticisms as politically motivated attempts to distract from a legitimate probe into potentially serious wrongdoing.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is likely to face questions about Mr. Ohr’s situation when he testifies Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee.”
-Del Quentin Wilber and Aruna Viswanatha, “Justice Department Lawyer Transferred for Not Telling Officials of Meeting With Dossier Author,” The Wall Street Journal online, Dec. 12, 2017 09:21pm