Rosenstein, Wray face angry House Republicans in hearing

WASHINGTON - Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray are facing sharp questioning about the Justice Department's independence during a Thursday hearing before the House Judiciary Committee.

Republicans on the panel contend the department has conspired against President Donald Trump and withheld important documents.

The House panel is investigating the FBI's conduct in separate investigations of Hillary Clinton and Trump's campaign and Russia.

The hearing comes as the House is preparing to vote on a resolution that demands the department turn over thousands of documents by July 6.

The House Judiciary Committee approved the resolution in a contentious hearing Tuesday. On Wednesday, the panel privately interviewed an FBI agent involved in both investigations who had sent anti-Trump texts.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, the Virginia Republican who chairs the Judiciary Committee, signaled the tone of the hearing in his opening remarks when he complained about the FBI and the Justice Department not producing all of the documents that have been requested.

"The Department of Justice and the FBI are not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. The President and Congress are," Goodlatte said. "Our Constitutional oversight necessitates that institutions like the FBI and DOJ yield to Congress' constitutional mandate."