As he closes one of the largest public corruption cases in state history, Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein is facing even bigger foes: Maryland?s two U.S. senators. U.S. Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin Cardin are opposing the prosecutor?s presidential nomination to a federal judgeship.
President Bushon Thursday announced Rosenstein as his pick to fill the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals? vacant Maryland seat.
But Maryland?s senators say the judgeship will hurt law enforcement efforts in the state and question the prosecutor?s credentials.
“Rod Rosenstein is doing a good job as the U.S. Attorney in Maryland and that?s where we need him,” Mikulski said in a statement. “He plays a vital role in fighting crime and protecting our communities in Maryland. In the twilight of the Bush administration, we don?t need an acting U.S. Attorney in Maryland. In light of the mismanagement of the Bush administration Justice Department, we cannot risk another vacancy.”
Rosenstein, Maryland?s top federal prosecutor since 2005, has focused on violent crime, particularly in Baltimore, and landed 86 federal indictments with anti-gun crime program, Baltimore EXILE, in 2006. On Friday, his prosecutors brought home one of the largest public corruption cases in Maryland history when they won a seven-year sentence against former state Sen. Thomas Bromwell, a Baltimore County Democrat, on racketeering charges.
Outside the federal courthouse, Rosenstein smiled when asked about the judgeship but declined to comment.
Mikulski and Cardin sent a letter to the White House on Sept. 21 objecting to talk of Rosenstein?s possible nomination, arguing he lacks a lengthy history of state legal experience in Maryland and strong Maryland roots.
“I regret that the White House did not listen to our recommendations to keep Rod Rosenstein as U.S.
Attorney,” Cardin said in a statement. “We had had hoped to work with the administration to find a consensus candidate for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals with deep roots in the Maryland legal community.”
Staff Writer Jaime Malarkey contributed to this story.
