I don’t like Republicans. None of my friends are Republicans. None of my acquaintances either.
but there are two that I have respect for: Rod Rosenstein and Robert Mueller III.
But rumors have been swirling that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein would be leaving the DOJ as soon as Bill Barr is confirmed.
Now the scuttlebutt is this:
Jan. 9, 2019, 7:24 AM EST / Updated Jan. 9, 2019, 3:59 PM EST
By Pete Williams and Allan Smith
WASHINGTON — Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who had been overseeing the special counsel investigation, plans to step down after Robert Mueller finishes his work, according to administration officials familiar with his thinking.
A source close to Rosenstein said he intends to stay on until Mueller's investigative and prosecutorial work is done. The source said that would mean Rosenstein would remain until early March. Several legal sources have said they expect the Mueller team to conclude its work by mid-to-late February, although they said that timeline could change based on unforeseen investigative developments.
The source said once Mueller's work is done, the special counsel's report to the Justice Department would follow a few weeks later, and Rosenstein would likely be gone by then.
Rosenstein’s departure hinging upon Barr’s confirmation seemed to me to be odd at best, arbitrary at worst. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to run from controversy.
I may have buried the lead, in that the story also says Mueller will be done “by mid-to-late February” which is music to my ears.
Now, the way things are going, Mueller may very well be done before Barr’s hearings even begin.