Rod Rosenstein was confirmed as the nation’s deputy attorney general with a 94-6 vote in the Senate. | Getty Senate confirms Rosenstein as deputy attorney general

Rod Rosenstein was confirmed as the second-ranking official at the Justice Department on Tuesday, giving him the reins of the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election after Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recusal last month.

The Senate backed the veteran federal prosecutor as the nation’s deputy attorney general with a 94-6 vote. The chief complaint among the small group of Democrats who opposed Rosenstein was his reluctance to promise to appoint an independent prosecutor to lead the Russia probe.


“He is, in some senses, what we value in the Department of Justice: someone committed to the rule of law,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), the most vocal critic of Rosenstein’s nomination. “That’s why I have been surprised and disappointed that he has failed to heed my request.”

Though the duties of the deputy attorney general are broad, Rosenstein was catapulted into the spotlight after Sessions — a top ally of President Donald Trump — stepped aside from any federal probe of Trump’s campaign. Sessions had not disclosed previous communications with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak despite testifying that he “did not have communications with the Russians” during his confirmation hearing in January.

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The Russia controversy engulfed Rosenstein’s confirmation hearing in March. The deputy attorney general nominee testified that he knew of no reason that would ethically force him to step aside from leading the federal investigation into Russian meddling last year.

“I’m not aware of any requirement for me to recuse at this time,” Rosenstein told the committee.

Most Senate Democrats appeared satisfied with Rosenstein’s comments during the hearing, as well as his private assurances to senators, that he would appoint a special prosecutor if it’s warranted. In a floor speech earlier this week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stressed that Rosenstein had made that commitment to him personally.

“He had developed a reputation for integrity,” Schumer said. “He has promised to give this issue careful consideration. I believe if he studies the department regulations, he will come to the same conclusion many of us have: that a special counsel is merited.”

Last month, FBI director James Comey publicly confirmed the existence of a federal probe into Russian intervention in the presidential election, as well as potential communications between members of Trump’s campaign team and Russian officials.