WASHINGTON – Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general overseeing theprobe into alleged collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump, wasabout to resign or be fired Monday, US media reported.
Several media including The New York Times and The Washington Post reportedthat Rosenstein was preparing to be dismissed, following the publication ofreports that he had discussed ways to remove Trump over incompetence.
It was not immediately clear whether he would be sacked, or would resignfirst, the reports said.
The departure of Rosenstein — possibly giving Trump an opportunity to getmore of a loyalist as a replacement — would dramatically rock the probeinto whether Russia colluded with the Trump campaign in his shockpresidential election victory in 2016.
Rosenstein plays a key role in overseeing the probe by Special CounselRobert Mueller, which Trump calls a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
In a highly unusual move for a US president, Trump has repeatedly attackedthe Justice Department and the FBI, claiming that they are biased againsthim.
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Just last Friday, Trump referred in a speech to supporters to a “lingeringstench” at the Justice Department that he would soon eradicate.
The rancor between Trump and his own law enforcement officials took anextraordinary turn with reports that in May 2017 Rosenstein suggestedsecretly recording Trump for evidence of White House dysfunction — andusing that to remove him from power.
The New York Times and Washington Post reports were based on secret memosby a former FBI director — which some speculated may have been leaked inorder to undermine Rosenstein, and in turn the Russia special prosecutorMueller.
Democrat opponents and also many from his own Republican Party have warnedTrump not to take any action that could be seen as attempting to weaken oreven dismantle the Russia probe. – APP/AFP
