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Matt Zapotosky
A national security reporter covering the Department of Justice
Devlin Barrett
Reporter focused on national security and law enforcement
The departure of Rod J. Rosenstein seemed so certain this week that his boss's chief of staff had told his colleagues that he had been chosen by the White House to take over the Ministry of Justice, while Another official in Russia's interference in the 2016 elections, people familiar with the subject said.
But Monday afternoon, the succession plan was abandoned. Rosenstein, who told the White House that he was ready to resign if President Trump did not denigrate him, would remain the Deputy Attorney General before an important meeting Thursday to discuss the future of his job. The other officials, too, would return to work, thinking that in a few days, they could lead the department through a historic crisis.
On Tuesday, inside the Justice Ministry, the authorities struggled to understand the events that almost caused a seismic upheaval in their ranks – until there was no
[Rod Rosenstein to stay in job for now, will meet with Trump on Thursday, White House says]
Some officials said Jeff Sessions' chief of staff, Matt Whitaker, had told people he would take Rosenstein's place – an indication that the Deputy Attorney General's departure was almost certain – in his work. began telling people Sunday that Rosenstein might be in trouble, according to people familiar with the subject. Others said they learned all the news stories that have evolved throughout the day.
Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to reporters.
Although it is still possible that Rosenstein could still resign or be fired imminently, people inside and outside the department said that it seemed increasingly likely that Rosenstein would remain in his post after November elections, then with the Attorney General. Two White House officials said Tuesday that Trump should not shoot Rosenstein before mid-term.
The expulsion of the Deputy Attorney General next month could prompt Trump's critics to run for elections in which dozens of congressional seats are at stake and Republicans fear losing control of the House. And those who observed Trump and Rosenstein together or were informed of their interactions said that the president seemed to be holding Rosenstein higher than at the sessions.
"For all the boastfulness of the President, I'm not sure he's not at all a bit of respect towards Rod," said James M. Trusty, a friend of Rosenstein and former Justice Department official working for Ifrah Law. .
Trump – fueled to a large extent by his anger over Russia's investigation – has long pondered the dismissals of Sessions and Rosenstein. He has publicly stated that he would have chosen another Attorney General if he knew that Sessions would recuse himself from the inquiry conducted by Robert S. Mueller III and that he made a mockery of the highest official of the police. from the country: Magoo.
For the eyeglass Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller to lead the investigation into Russia, Trump chose the nickname "Mr. Peepers ", a character from a 1950s sitcom.
In public, the two law enforcement officials have barely fought against the president's attacks. Both congratulated him by his name in the speeches. A Justice Department official said Trump and Rosenstein had a "solid working relationship," despite Trump's public and private attacks against him and the department.
[Trump says he has made no decision on whether to fire Rosenstein]
This relationship, however, appears to be at a crossroads, after news reports were released last week by former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe in suggested memos a year ago by Rosenstein. record his conversations.
Rosenstein generally disputed this report and told White House officials that he thought McCabe's memories were exaggerated. A person familiar with at least one of the exchanges in question stated that Rosenstein was not serious when he approached the idea of a wiretap. But if McCabe's description is accurate, it could give Trump a good reason to oust the Deputy Attorney General.
During conversations with White House officials over the weekend, Rosenstein suggested he was ready to resign and his resignation might be necessary to end the controversy. His conversations were somewhat stifled by other news: Rosenstein tried to talk to White House lawyer Donald McGahn, for example, but McGahn was dismissive and said that he was outmoded by the controversy surrounding Supreme Court candidate Brett M. Kavanaugh.
On Monday, when the Axios media reported that Rosenstein had "verbally resigned," planning was advanced and people familiar with the case said that Rosenstein thought he would be fired. Whitaker, a former US lawyer who was appointed Sessions chief of staff in October, told the Justice Department that he would assume the role of Deputy Attorney General. Solicitor General Noel Francisco was to take over the supervision of the Mueller inquiry.
The Department of Justice had prepared a statement announcing the departure of Rosenstein. But after a long-awaited visit to the White House, where Rosenstein met with Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, there was no resignation and officials quickly announced the meeting with Trump Thursday.
Trusty, who declined to detail his own conversations with Rosenstein, said it was possible that Rosenstein considers last week's information as irreparable harm to his relationship with Trump.
"I could see a situation where he thought the relationship was completely broken between him and his chain of supervision, which goes up to the president, so he could say," This is not a effective model, "he said. .
But he said he doubted that Trump would send Rosenstein back – aware of the political damage he could do – and if Rosenstein left, he might not do it immediately. This is particularly important, as some fear that anyone who succeeds Rosenstein suffocates the Russian investigation in the same way as Rosenstein.
"It remains until the end of the year, that could mean that it will direct the Mueller probe to the finish line," Trusty said. .
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