It's March 7th, 2017.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on the nomination of Rod Rosenstein

to be the deputy attorney general.

Rosenstein's whole career has been leading up to this moment.

He's a nonpartisan sort of guy.

He served under both President Bush and Obama.

Now he's being elevated to the role of running the day-to-day at DOJ.

But this hearing is about more than just confirming a new deputy attorney general.

On March 2nd, five days earlier, Attorney General Jeff Sessions had announced his recusal

from all investigations involving the 2016 election, a recusal which included the Russia

investigation.

And so the moment he becomes deputy, Rosenstein will also become the acting attorney general

for the purposes of the Russia investigation.

He doesn't mention it in his opening statement, but he says he wants Congress to know how

seriously he takes this role.

Senators, before taking on a position of this solemn responsibility, it's important to

know who you are and what you stand for.

My oath is an obligation that requires me to support and defend the Constitution of the

United States to bear full faith in allegiance to the Constitution and to well and faithfully

discharge the duties of my office.

As you know, I've taken that oath a few times.

I've administered that oath many times.

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