Rod Rosenstein, U.S. deputy attorney general who appointed Mueller, submits resignation

By Sarah N. Lynch and Andy Sullivan

 

FILE PHOTO: Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rod Rosenstein speaks at a New York City Bar event in New York, U.S., May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Special Counsel Robert Mueller in May 2017 to investigate links between the Russian government and President Donald Trump's campaign, said on Monday he was resigning from his post.

 

Rosenstein's departure, effective May 11, was not a surprise. He had been expected to step down in March. The White House had no immediate comment, but noted that Trump had already nominated Deputy Transportation Secretary Jeffrey Rosen to replace him.

 

Rosenstein ended up staying on the job longer to help Attorney General William Barr manage the public release of Mueller's findings from his 22-month investigation, which was completed on March 22.

 

In a letter to Trump, Rosenstein echoed two of Trump’s signature phrases, writing that he helped staff the department with officials “devoted to the values that make America great” and adding that “we always put America first.”

 

Mueller's investigation did not establish evidence that Trump's campaign illegally conspired with Moscow.

 

Mueller, in his final report, did not make a determination on whether Trump obstructed justice, but instead presented evidence on both sides.

 

After receiving the final report, Rosenstein and Barr made their own determination, finding there was insufficient evidence to charge the president.

 

"We enforce the law without fear or favour because credible evidence is not partisan," Rosensteinwrote in his resignation letter.

 

Rosenstein, a Republican, was often criticized by Trump and his allies for appointing Mueller. He has also been involved in decision-making at the Justice Department that has been criticized by Democrats.

 

Democrats have directed most of their anger at Barr for how he chose to selectively release certain details of the Mueller report before making it public and for his decision to declare Trump had not obstructed justice.

 

But Rosenstein played a prominent role in weighing the evidence Mueller had gathered on obstruction and deciding that Trump should not be charged.

 

Last autumn, questions swirled about whether Trump might fire him, after the New York Times reported that Rosenstein had suggested in 2017 secretly recording Trump with a wire and recruiting Cabinet members to remove the president from office under the U.S. Constitution's 25th Amendment.

 

Rosenstein has said the story was "inaccurate." Despite stoking Trump's ire, he remained on the job.

 

In a speech last week, he blasted “mercenary critics” and defended how the Mueller investigation was handled.

 

“If lawyers cannot prove our case in court, then what we believe is irrelevant," he said.

 

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Andy Sullivan; Editing by Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-04-30

If, like so many other high-profile govt. officers, Rosenstein later writes a book detailing his tenure in the Trump Administration, then that's got to be interesting and perhaps very revealing.  Rosenstein managed to navigate his way by surviving the merry-go-round that saw so many other people leave much faster than him.  Scaramucci holding the dubious title of the shortest.  And, Rosenstein's the one who started the Mueller investigation!

 

His take on how he managed to survive for so long would have to be a good read.

 

Here's a link to a list of the many short-tenured, former members of the Trump administration:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Trump_administration_dismissals_and_resignations

Edited April 29, 20197 yr by helpisgood
typo

9 minutes ago, helpisgood said:

  Rosenstein managed to navigate his way surviving the merry-go-round that saw so many other people leave much faster than him.  Scaramucci holding the dubious title of the shortest.  

 

 

Even in this administation it was doubtful that Scaramucci could go the distance when his first encounter with the press went something like this:  

 

Quote

Scaramucci: 'Not Trying to Suck My Own Cock...I'm Here To Serve the Country'.

 

 

Trying to get out in one piece without to much damage to his reputation 

Tough position to be in...you must be doing something right if both sides complain they are being treated unfairly...

Free to testify to Congress...

Here we go...

 

300 posts of "nail in the coffin for Trump" to follow....

 

Before that, I urge those with TDS to re-read the following "He had been expected to step down in March".

 

He'd said he'd do 2 years... I'm more interested in what he does next, not in terms of book deals but career-wise.

Well if nothing else, his resignation letter has scuppered any defence he might wish to mount that he misunderstood his duties.

Draining the swamp will continue! ???? 

For all the money in the world, the last person I would want to work for would be Donald Trump. There is a satisfaction in life to work for people you honor and respect, if one is fortunate enough. He is smart to get out now. Trump obviously has a very hard time attracting talent, and an even harder time keeping the little bit of talent he is able to attract. Barr and Pompeo are great examples. Really? You could not find better than that? Not exactly what I would refer to a cherry picking, now is it? More like the seeking of the bottom of the barrel. 

This guy is a crook. Good riddance.

More likely given his marching orders like many others in this administration 

3 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Draining the swamp will continue! ???? 

I`m waiting for the day when the swamp draining will be done concerning the man/child with the absolutely longest Pinocchhio-nose, a US president ever has had. 10,000 lies within 800 days, a new record, the egomaniac can brag about (as usual) who needs followers like you. The REPs nearly died of suffocation when the former POTUS seemed to lie only one time.

 

Fortunately there are (a few) officials like R. who cannot stand the arxlicking any more.

Edited April 30, 20197 yr by puck2

They make him pay the Tab for Mueller's investigation

37 minutes ago, puck2 said:

 

Fortunately there are (a few) officials like R. who cannot stand the arxlicking any more.

 

They tend to find their scruples sometime after their pensions have vested. Coincidence?

3 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Draining the swamp will continue! ???? 

Rod will be useful in the coming months

6 hours ago, webfact said:

In a speech last week, he blasted “mercenary critics” and defended how the Mueller investigation was handled.

 

“If lawyers cannot prove our case in court, then what we believe is irrelevant," he said.

That same speech in a Politico article  he went on to say 

 Rosenstein defends Russia investigation, takes shots at Obama administration

"He then chastised “critical decisions” he said had been made about the investigation before he arrived by the Obama administration and then-FBI director James Comey, including not divulging more about Russia’s meddling. He compared the atmosphere of his time as DOJ’s No. 2 to a parable about a man who laid down on a burning bed".

 

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/26/rosenstein-russia-investigation-1290412

 

 

 

 

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

For all the money in the world, the last person I would want to work for would be Donald Trump. There is a satisfaction in life to work for people you honor and respect, if one is fortunate enough. He is smart to get out now. Trump obviously has a very hard time attracting talent, and an even harder time keeping the little bit of talent he is able to attract. Barr and Pompeo are great examples. Really? You could not find better than that? Not exactly what I would refer to a cherry picking, now is it? More like the seeking of the bottom of the barrel. 

"Trump obviously has a very hard time attracting talent,"

 

that is because he is not recruiting on this forum

20 minutes ago, riclag said:

Rod will be useful in the coming months

That same speech in a Politico article  he went on to say 

 Rosenstein defends Russia investigation, takes shots at Obama administration

"He then chastised “critical decisions” he said had been made about the investigation before he arrived by the Obama administration and then-FBI director James Comey, including not divulging more about Russia’s meddling. He compared the atmosphere of his time as DOJ’s No. 2 to a parable about a man who laid down on a burning bed".

 

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/26/rosenstein-russia-investigation-1290412

 

 

 

 

What he confirms in this article is what other posters have objected to your statement that there was no crime committed: 

He also defended the outcome of the probe, pointing to how it "does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”

 

As for divulging more about Russia's meddling, Trumpists would probably have criticised it as a political attempt to influence elections by the deep state.....

6 minutes ago, candide said:

What he confirms in this article is what other posters have objected to your statement that there was no crime committed: 

He also defended the outcome of the probe, pointing to how it "does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”

 

As for divulging more about Russia's meddling, Trumpists would probably have criticised it as a political attempt to influence elections by the deep state.....

It's all political on both sides, isn't it! Soon we'll hear about  the other side of the last 3 years!

Edited April 30, 20197 yr by riclag

39 minutes ago, riclag said:

Rod will be useful in the coming months

That same speech in a Politico article  he went on to say 

 Rosenstein defends Russia investigation, takes shots at Obama administration

"He then chastised “critical decisions” he said had been made about the investigation before he arrived by the Obama administration and then-FBI director James Comey, including not divulging more about Russia’s meddling. He compared the atmosphere of his time as DOJ’s No. 2 to a parable about a man who laid down on a burning bed".

 

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/26/rosenstein-russia-investigation-1290412

 

 

 

 

‘Burning Bed’

 

He’s about to be put in the hot seat facing Congressional examination.

 

His chance to explain what he meant when he told Trump ‘I’m on your team’ and precisely what ‘plane’ he was going ‘to land’ for Trump.

 

His partisan comments last week regarding Trump are alone enough to warrant a very close examination of his behavior while overseeing the SC investigation 

“The FBI disclosed classified evidence about the investigation to ranking legislators and their staffers. Someone selectively leaked details to the news media. The FBI director announced at a congressional hearing that there was a counterintelligence investigation that might result in criminal charges. Then the former FBI director alleged that the President pressured him to close the investigation, and the President denied that the conversation occurred".

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/26/rosenstein-russia-investigation-1290412

 

 

in reply to 

  4 hours ago,  puck2 said: 

I`m waiting for the day when the swamp draining will be done concerning the man/child with the absolutely longest Pinocchhio-nose, a US president ever has had. 10,000 lies within 800 days, a new record, the egomaniac can brag about (as usual) who needs followers like you. The REPs nearly died of suffocation when the former POTUS seemed to lie only one time.

Fortunately there are (a few) officials like R. who cannot stand the arxlicking any more.

 

The problem, as always, with everything, is Trump. Trump isn’t just a rich guy, or the president. His every move, every thought, revolve around presenting himself as his own, vulgar, demented, version of what a rich man is. This is a man who lives in a gold tower and, so desperate to inhabit his sad, cartoon version of wealth, literally shits in a gold toilet. He is hyper-conscious of status signifiers, even though the signifiers he chooses signify exactly the opposite of his intention for anyone with a semi-functional aesthetic sense, the most famous, desperate, social climbing <deleted> in a world full of them. He is, always, always, always trying to look wealthy, special, “classy”, and terrified of looking otherwise. That’s the whole point of being Trump.

Despite a stormy relationship with the president, he praised Trump in the letter, thanking him for “the courtesy and humor” he displayed in their conversations together and for championing “patriotism, unity, safety, education and prosperity” in his inaugural address.

and

Rosenstein “has navigated many challenging situations with strength, grace and good humor,” Barr said in a statement Monday. “Rod has been an invaluable partner to me during my return to the department, and I have relied heavily on his leadership and judgment over the past several months.”

 

re: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/us-deputy-attorney-general-s-resignation-ends-turbulent-two-year-tenure-1.3876007

 

I find this a bit curious.  He could be leaving the door open a little bit for someone to come along and inquire "tell us about these conversations and guidance, Mr Rosenstein."  At which point he will no longer be in service and might be so forthcoming that it rocks the boat.

 

Does anyone know if Rosy will continue on in the DOJ or is retiring?

 

 

 

7 hours ago, Nigel Garvie said:

Confirmed Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

Indeed!   DT is now quite confident and cocky about things being taken to SCOTUS because he packed it with his stooges.

 

 

Off-topic posts and replies removed.

 

Looks like rod  jumped ship just in time in light of the letter muller wrote to Barr lol