Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the official responsible for overseeing special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, has offered his resignation to the White House, according to multiple reports.
Rosenstein was on his way to the White House Monday morning to meet with White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, The New York Times reported. Trump is in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly.
But it was not immediately clear whether Rosenstein is resigning from his post, or expecting Trump to fire him. A spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment, but said a statement would be forthcoming.
The news follows a report in The New York Times on Friday that Rosenstein had discussed wiretapping Trump in the White House, and the possibility of recruiting cabinet members to force Trump’s resignation via the 25th Amendment, during meetings in early 2017.
Rosenstein denied the reports, attributing them to anonymous sources biased against the bureau and “advancing a personal agenda.” But they raised a dark cloud of suspicion over his relationship with Trump.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the official responsible for overseeing special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, has offered his resignation to the White House, according to multiple reports.
Rosenstein was on his way to the White House Monday morning to meet with White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, The New York Times reported. Trump is in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly.
But it was not immediately clear whether Rosenstein is resigning from his post, or expecting Trump to fire him. A spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment, but said a statement would be forthcoming.
The news follows a report in The New York Times on Friday that Rosenstein had discussed wiretapping Trump in the White House, and the possibility of recruiting cabinet members to force Trump’s resignation via the 25th Amendment, during meetings in early 2017.
Rosenstein denied the reports, attributing them to anonymous sources biased against the bureau and “advancing a personal agenda.” But they raised a dark cloud of suspicion over his relationship with Trump.
The reports cited notes taken by former FBI acting director Andrew McCabe at meetings with Rosenstein, but on Monday McCabe denied leaking his notes to reporters. In a statement distributed to reporters, he also described himself as gravely concerned about the reports that Rosenstein may be on the way out.
“If the rumors of Deputy AG’s Rosenstein’s departure are true, I am deeply concerned that it puts that investigation at risk,” McCabe said.
The fate of Mueller’s Russia probe now hangs in the balance. Because the head of the Department of Justice, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, has recused himself from overseeing the investigation, Rosenstein’s replacement would have the power to fire Mueller and effectively shutter the special counsel’s office.
Mueller has tightened his circle around Trump and his allies in recent weeks, as one high-profile member of the Trump team after another have pled guilty to crimes and agreed to cooperate. Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, was the latest top Trump official to flip. The former Trump campaign manager reached a cooperation deal with Mueller in early September, in a decision that sent shockwaves through Washington.
The next Department of Justice official in line to oversee the Mueller investigation would be Solicitor General Noel Francisco.
This is a developing story, refresh for updates.
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