Report: Trump Asked Deputy AG If He Was 'On My Team'

Ahead of his testimony in front of the House Judiciary Committee, President Trump wanted to make sure he knew what team Rod Rosenstein was backing, CNN states in an exclusive report. Sources say the deputy attorney general met with Trump at the White House in December to ask him to support the Justice Department's efforts to block Rep. Devin Nunes from accessing sensitive documents. Trump, however, had other things on his mind—namely Rosenstein's upcoming testimony. (Trump would eventually decline to stop the House intelligence Committee chairman from accessing the documents.)

Sources say Trump first asked Rosenstein where Robert Mueller's investigation was going. Rosenstein—who has authority over the special counsel's investigation into possible collusion with Russia and obstruction of justice—didn't answer. Trump then asked Rosenstein if he was "on my team," sources say. "Of course, we're all on your team, Mr. President," the deputy attorney general is said to have awkwardly responded. Rosenstein would later testify that Trump never asked him to "take a loyalty pledge" and that "as long as you are following your oath of office, you can also be faithful to the administration." Former FBI head James Comey had testified he was fired by Trump after refusing to pledge his loyalty. Click here for the full CNN report, which once again raises the specter of Trump trying to interfere in Mueller's investigation. (More Donald Trump stories.)