Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will quit his role at the Justice Department in the coming weeks, ABC News reports. Citing unnamed sources said to be familiar with his plans, the report states Rosenstein told President Donald Trump that he intends to leave the administration at the same time that William Barr—Trump’s nominee for attorney general—would take office, if he is confirmed by the Senate. Rosenstein reportedly wants to wait until a new AG is in the role to ensure a smooth transition for his successor. ABC News reports there’s no indication that Rosenstein was being forced out by Trump and that he had long intended to serve for only two years. CNN later confirmed the ABC report. Speculation mounted that Rosenstein would quit his role after Jeff Sessions was fired as attorney general. He has overseen Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election since Sessions recused himself from the matter because of his role in Trump’s campaign. He’s been a frequent target of Trump’s anger on Twitter—the president recently retweeted an image of Rosenstein and others behind bars.
