Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is reportedly ready to resign from the White House as soon as a successor to former Attorney General Jeff Sessions is named.
So long, Rod
Rosenstein’s announcement confirms a long-standing rumor in Washington: the controversial Deputy AG is finally calling it quits. His departure will end a less-than-amicable relationship with the President, who has distrusted him ever since the appointment of Robert Mueller to head a special counsel investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian government.
Rosenstein will leave his post once Trump’s nominated successor to Jeff Sessions, William Barr, is confirmed by the Senate.
BREAKING: Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees Mueller probe, is expected to resign from his post at the Justice Department in a few weeks, CBS News confirms https://t.co/8F8fgnmHkJ pic.twitter.com/T7votIvLjk
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 9, 2019
Rosenstein wasn’t helping his case either by suggesting – possibly in jest – that he invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump from office. (RELATED: Goodlatte May Subpoena Deputy AG Rosenstein Over 25th Amendment Comments.)
Just last November, President Trump actually suggested that Rosenstein belonged behind bars after sharing a meme depicting his political enemies rotting in a jail cell. (RELATED: Donald Trump Explains Why Rod Rosenstein Belongs ‘Behind Bars’.)
If that wasn’t Rosenstein’s sign to polish his resume and start looking for a new job, I don’t know what could be clearer.
Congressional Republicans will be pleased
House Republicans repeatedly attempted to push for Rosenstein’s impeachment after he slow-walked the process in turning over documents related to the Obama DOJ’s abuses during the 2016 election. The stonewalling got so bad that some Republicans were seriously pushing for Rosenstein’s immediate removal. (RELATED: ‘We’re Getting Close’: Nunes Says Impeachment Is on the Table for Rod Rosenstein.)
Hey, Hey, Hey, Gooooodbyyyyeee
Regardless of his relationship with Republicans, Rosenstein is a creature of the swamp and Trump has been more than generous, perhaps even a little naive, in letting him remain at his post for so long.
It’s high time for Rosenstein to move on to greener pastures. Trump needs a Justice Department that isn’t run by big Washington technocrats only interested in preserving their own power.
