Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., says Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is "hiding" from Congress.

The No. 2. official at the Justice Department delivered a speech on opioids and sat down for an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. But, as the chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus noted, Rosenstein failed to show up for a meeting with lawmakers last week.

"Rod Rosenstein gave an interview to Wall Street Journal today, after failing to show up in Congress last week to answer questions," Meadows, R-N.C., tweeted. "By hiding from Congress and making time for media interviews, Mr. Rosenstein has made his priorities clear. It seems transparency isn't one of them."


Rosenstein was tentatively set to meet with GOP lawmakers last week to discuss reports that he considered secretly recording Trump. However, last week's meeting was postponed, and a House Judiciary Committee aide told the Washington Examiner at the time they are working to confirm a potential meeting.

Some Republicans were upset Rosenstein wouldn't be on Capitol Hill, calling for a subpoena, and Trump said he was "surprised" he wouldn't appear.

Meadows is a member of the Oversight Committee who earlier this year helped introduce articles of impeachment against Rosenstein.

GOP investigators, who have routinely clashed with Rosenstein over document requests, were eager to grill him on a recent New York Times report on him discussing secretly recording Trump and invoking the 25th Amendment of the Constitution to oust the president after FBI Director James Comey was fired in May 2017.

Rosenstein has denied considering such actions and rampant speculation that he might resign or be fired have died down in recent weeks. Trump said late last month he would "prefer not" to fire Rosenstein.

Rosenstein's busy day Wednesday followed an early morning Bloomberg report that said Rosenstein has been pushing special counsel Robert Mueller to wrap up the Russia investigation as soon as possible. Rosenstein is overseeing the inquiry, as Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself.

In his interview with the Journal, Rosenstein defended the investigation, which Trump has derided as a "witch hunt." Rosenstein said the inquiry looking into Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin is “appropriate and independent." He also acknowledged that "[p]eople are entitled to be frustrated, I can accept that."

The publication of the interview followed his speech at a Washington, D.C., Medicaid event, during which Rosenstein quipped, "You may have noticed. We have been very busy at the Department of Justice."