Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein Rod RosensteinDOJ kept investigators from completing probe of Trump ties to Russia: report Five takeaways from final Senate Intel Russia report FBI officials hid copies of Russia probe documents fearing Trump interference: book MORE said Thursday that his time in law enforcement was "coming to an end."

"My time as a law enforcement official is coming to an end, a lot later than I expected," the No. 2 official at the Department of Justice (DOJ) said during a lecture at the University of Pennsylvania. "People joke about the revolving door between government and the private sector. The door never revolved for me. It was one way in, and one way out."

On Monday, multiple news outlets reported that Rosenstein is expected to leave DOJ in mid-March.

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President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE announced Tuesday that he would nominate Jeffrey Rosen to replace Rosenstein as the Justice Department's second in command. Bloomberg News reported the same day that new Attorney General William Barr chose Rosen as his deputy.

Rosenstein, who after the firing of FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeyDemocrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate Book: FBI sex crimes investigator helped trigger October 2016 public probe of Clinton emails Trump jabs at FBI director over testimony on Russia, antifa MORE appointed special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election, has often been at odds with Trump.

Rosenstein oversaw Mueller's probe following the recusal of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsGOP set to release controversial Biden report Trump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status MORE.

The president on Monday blasted Rosenstein and former acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe Andrew George McCabeGraham: Comey to testify about FBI's Russia probe, Mueller declined invitation Barr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' GOP votes to authorize subpoenas, depositions in Obama-era probe MORE after McCabe told "60 Minutes" that Rosenstein once discussed using the 25th Amendment to remove Trump.

"He and Rod Rosenstein, who was hired by Jeff Sessions (another beauty), look like they were planning a very illegal act, and got caught," Trump tweeted.

Rosenstein addressed his detractors in the speech on Thursday, which was first reported by Bloomberg.

"I took more than my fair share of criticism. But I kept the faith, I followed the rules, and I left my office in good hands," he said.