WASHINGTON (AP) -- Eleven GOP lawmakers, led in part by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, announced Wednesday they had introduced articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
Since Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself -- to the president's vocal dissatisfaction -- Rosenstein has overseen special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
The investigation has resulted in a cornucopia of charges against 35 people, including former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort, former national security adviser Michael Flynn, several Russian intelligence workers and former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos.
Flynn, Papadopoulos and many others have pleaded guilty; the remaining men indicted have taken plea deals or are, like Manafort, awaiting trial.
However, Republicans in the House of Representatives have been vocally opposed to the investigaiton and increasingly accused Rosenstein and Mueller of running an opaque investigation that resisted attempts at Congressional oversight.
House Republicans have criticized Rosenstein for not being responsive enough as they have requested documents related to the Russia investigation as well as a closed investigation into Democrat Hillary Clinton's emails.
If Rosenstein were impeached, President Donald Trump -- a major focus of the investigation, to which he has frequently referred as a "witch hunt" -- would appoint his replacement.
It's unclear if there will be an immediate vote. The articles were introduced by Jordan and North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows, frequent critics of the Justice Department.
House Speaker Paul Ryan has not signed on to the effort.
