Rosenstein Leaving Justice Department After Barr Is Confirmed

ABC News is reporting that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will be leaving the Justice Department after William Barr is confirmed. Barr is Trump’s nominee for AG and is expected to be confirmed.

Rosenstein is leaving by his own free will and is not being forced out by Trump. He has already spoken to the White House and has informed them of his departure.

One of the important roles of the deputy attorney general is overseeing the Mueller investigation.

In the past, Rosenstein has told officials that he planned on resigning when he felt the Mueller investigation was near completion and could not be stopped, or if it was finished.

Rosenstein wanted to ensure the Mueller investigation could not be halted by Trump.

The timing of Rosenstein departure could be changed based on when Barr is confirmed, and also when a  deputy attorney general is named. Rosenstein was reported saying that he wants a smooth transition between himself and the new attorney general.

Senate confirmation hearings for Barr begin on January 15, which means the earliest a vote regarding his confirmation would be mid-February.

If Barr is confirmed, he would be the individual in charge of overseeing the special counsel’s Russian investigation.

In a memo from June 2018 to DOJ officials, Barr reached a decisive conclusion stating that ex-FBI Director James Comey’s interactions with Trump would not be considered obstruction of justice.

He also defended Trump firing Comey and called the special counsel obstruction investigation “fatally misconceived.”

Written By Barbara Sobel

Sources:

CNN Politics: Rosenstein plans to leave Justice Dept. shortly after Barr confirmed
WFAA: Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein To Leave DOJ: Report
Reuters: U.S. official Rosenstein, overseeing Russia probe, to leave: reports

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