Deputy US attorney general to leave after Trump’s nominee to lead the justice department is set to take over, officials told media

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The deputy US attorney general, Rod Rosenstein – who has overseen the Mueller investigation into Russian election meddling – is preparing to leave the US Department of Justice in coming weeks as Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the department is set to take over, officials have told US media.

Rosenstein has had oversight of the US special counsel’s investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible connections to Trump’s campaign. Then attorney general Jeff Sessions, an early Trump supporter during the presidential campaign, had recused himself.

William Barr, Trump’s pick to replace Sessions who was fired soon after the November midterm congressional elections, is set to appear for a confirmation hearing next week before the Senate judiciary committee, which must weigh his nomination before the full Senate considers his approval.

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An official who spoke to Reuters about Rosenstein, who asked not to be named since no announcement has been made, said there is no specific plan for Rosenstein’s departure and that he plans to leave sometime after Barr’s confirmation.

If confirmed, Barr, who was US attorney general under the late President George HW Bush from 1991 to 1993, would oversee the investigation led by US special counsel Robert Mueller, a fellow Republican chosen by Rosenstein.

Barr’s nomination is likely to meet heavy scrutiny regarding the ongoing investigation, particularly from Democrats, following reports he had written a memo in June questioning the investigation. Rosenstein has said the memo had no impact on the department’s work.

Rosenstein will stay on to ensure smooth transition with Barr, the official said, adding that he has seen his job as deputy as a two-year stint and is not being forced out.

Asked about Rosenstein’s departure, which was first reported by ABC News, the White House spokeswoman, Sarah Sanders, said she had not spoken to Rosenstein and would leave any announced departures to him or the president.

“Certainly, I don’t think there’s any willingness by the president or the White House to push him out,” Sanders told Fox News in an interview.

Rosenstein has stayed on under the acting attorney general, Matt Whitaker, whose controversial appointment has sparked numerous legal challenges and raised questions about what role he would play regarding the investigation.

Rosenstein has been frequently criticized by Trump, who calls the Russia investigation a “witch-hunt” and denies any collusion with Moscow. Russia has also denied any election interference.

US intelligence agencies have found that Russia sought to sway the 2016 presidential vote to Trump over his Democratic challenger, Hillary Clinton.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report