Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein doesn't find it necessary at this point to appoint a special prosecutor to probe Russia's interference in the presidential election, CNN reported Friday, citing sources familiar with his thinking.

One source told CNN that Rosenstein is unlikely to make a change unless the FBI investigation seems endangered. Rosenstein has reportedly vowed to lawmakers and staff that he plans to allow the bureau’s probe to keep operating free of White House pressures.

Democrats have called for a special prosecutor in the wake of President Trump on Tuesday firing FBI Director James Comey, who was leading the bureau's investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

ADVERTISEMENT

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Top GOP senator calls for Biden to release list of possible Supreme Court picks GOP ramps up attacks on Democrats over talk of nixing filibuster MORE (D-Ill.) said Friday that Rosenstein must either name a special prosecutor or resign.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein Dianne Emiel FeinsteinSenators offer disaster tax relief bill Democrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts Congress must save the Postal Service from collapse — our economy depends on it MORE (Calif.), the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined that call on Friday evening, arguing that “these investigations are far too important to risk disruption, delay or interference."

Lawmakers from both parties have raised questions about the timing of Comey's dismissal, the reasoning for which the Trump administration struggled to explain this week.

The White House initially said Tuesday that Trump fired Comey based on the recommendation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsTrump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status White House officials voted by show of hands on 2018 family separations: report MORE and Rosenstein. But Trump said Thursday he would have fired Comey regardless of the Justice Department recommendation.

Democrats have also lashed out at Sessions, noting that he vowed earlier this year to recuse himself from any probes involving coordination between Trump associates and Russia.

CNN reported Friday that Rosenstein does not believe it is necessary to recuse himself from the investigation, which is currently being led by Dana Boente, the U.S. attorney in Alexandria, Va., who also heads national security prosecutions at the Justice Department.