Rod Rosenstein staying at Justice Department 'a little longer'

[DonViejo]

Source: NBC News



Rod Rosenstein staying at Justice Department 'a little longer'

A Justice Department official declined to comment on whether the delay in Rosenstein's departure means Mueller is still not ready to deliver his report.

March 19, 2019, 10:27 AM EDT

By Julia Ainsley and Pete Williams

WASHINGTON — Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will stay at the Justice Department "a little longer," according to a senior Justice Department official.

Rosenstein had previously said he would leave in mid-March, noting during a public appearance on March 7 that it would be one of his final speeches.

Rosenstein recently discussed his upcoming planned departure with Attorney General William Barr, after which it was decided that he would stay on a little longer, the official said.

The departure of Rosenstein, who appointed special counsel Robert Mueller in 2017 and oversaw his Russia investigation until Barr was confirmed as attorney general earlier this year, was widely thought to be tied to the completion of Mueller's report. Many speculated Rosenstein would stay on until Mueller completed his investigation and delivered a report on his findings to Barr.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/rod-rosenstein-staying-justice-department-little-longer-n984791?cid=public-rss_20190319

[BumRushDaShow]

1. ....

[NewJeffCT]

2. Trump is not liking that, I'm guessing

met with Barr and decided to stay on longer

[getagrip_already]

3. There may be some policy reason for him to stay...

If he made any decisions while acting ag in charge of the muehler probe, barr may not be able to reverse them while he is still there as deputy. At least not in a way he wouldn't have to report to congress.

Once rosenstein leaves, those decisions fall exclusively to barr, and he can change anything he wants to.

I'm thinking of sealed indictments and other directives and approvals he may have made. Since his name is on the court docs, he may still have ownership of them. Though he probably would have to follow barr's orders, that would need to be disclosed to congress.

Barr doesn't want to be charged later for obstruction, and doesn't want to be dragged through the mud of history. He is sneaky and corrupt, but he isn't stupid.

[BigmanPigman]

5. Sneaky and corrupt...this is going to be a real battle

to get the report to the public.

[patphil]

4. So, did Barr talk him out of leaving? I wonder why.