Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, beset from all sides with criticism over his role in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential race, is resigning.
Rosenstein submitted his resignation letter to President Trump on Monday, effective May 11, the Wall Street Journal reported. Rosenstein’s designated successor, Jeffrey Rosen, a favorite of Attorney General William Barr, is awaiting a likely confirmation by the Senate.
Rosenstein, 54, a former U.S. attorney in Maryland, played an unusually prominent role as the Justice Department second-in-command. He took over the Russia investigation when then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself due to his role in Trump’s successful 2016 White House bid.
Trump critics throughout the administration have had mixed feelings about Rosenstein’s performance. He drew skepticism for writing the legal justification for firing FBI Director James Comey in May 2017. But in the ensuing months, he also pushed back against efforts by the president to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, whom Rosenstein brought on to investigate Russia-related allegations once Comey was out the door.
The Mueller report, issued earlier this month, cited several examples of Trump considering firing the independent prosecutor.
Rosenstein, though, drew criticism from Democrats for handing over some documents to congressional Republicans, particularly when the GOP held the House majority.
Trump, for his part, had an on-again-off-again relationship with the deputy attorney general. At various points, Trump accused Rosenstein of disloyalty and incompetence only to come around once the career prosecutor issued more favorable rulings.
In his resignation letter, Rosenstein talked up accomplishments outside of the Mueller investigation.
“We staffed the Justice Department and the U.S. attorney’s offices with skilled and principled leaders devoted to the values that make America great,” he wrote. “By consulting stakeholders, implementing constructive policies, reducing bureaucracy, and using results-driven management, we maximized the public benefit of our $28 billion budget. Productivity rose, and crime fell.”
