U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein resigns President Trump

US Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Special
Counsel Robert Mueller in May 2017 to investigate links between the
Russian government and President Donald Trump’s campaign, said on
Monday he was resigning from his post.

In a letter to Trump, Rosenstein echoed two of Trump’s signature
phrases, writing that he helped staff the department with officials
“devoted to the values that make America great” and adding that “we
always put America first”.

According to the letter he will leave his post on May 11.

His departure ends a nearly two-year run defined by his
appointment Mueller. The departure had been expected since the
confirmation of William Barr as attorney general.

Mueller investigation
Rosenstein intended to leave in mid-March but stayed on a little
longer for the completion of Mueller’s Russia investigation.
Mueller submitted his report to the Justice Department last month.
Although it stopped short of concluding Trump had committed a
crime, it did not exonerate him. Rosenstein and Barr concluded that
Trump did not obstruct justice.

Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller in 2017 following the recusal
of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, had overseen his team’s work for
much of the last two years and defended his investigation.

Trump repeatedly called the investigation a “witch-hunt”.

Barr said in a statement on Monday that Rosenstein’s “devotion
to the Department and its professionals is unparalleled”.

“Over the course of his distinguished government career, he has
navigated many challenging situations with strength, grace, and
good humour,” Barr said. “Rod has been an invaluable partner to me
during my return to the Department, and I have relied heavily on
his leadership and judgment over the past several months.”

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

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