Since President Trump fired former CIA Director James Comey, the Deputy Attorney General for the Department of Justice (DOJ), Rod Rosenstein, seemed to succumb to the pressure of naming a special prosecutor on May 9, to finally put a stop to the reports of endless turmoil. Naming that special prosecutor, Robert Mueller, who was also the Director of the FBI for 12-years, was a clear indication to many that the investigation on the Trump administration's connection to Russian officials had become one over criminal intent.
Rosenstein submitting to Mueller probe
Since his appointment, further development of his investigation is that it has expanded to include people who are active in the White House and more recently, active in the DOJ such as Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In a report published by the Associated Press, Rosenstein said that if Mueller's investigation included him, then he would recuse himself. Rosenstein was reportedly involved with Session in writing the memo to recommend the firing of James Comey and was also said to have been targeted by the administration as the person to blame for the firing.
There have been conflicting reports as to whether Rosenstein actually threatened to resign over the ordeal which he denied.
But the AP report also points to Rosenstein as the person to who Mueller would have to seek permission from in order to for him to expand his investigation. The Deputy Attorney General reportedly discussed the matter with the special prosecutor and said that Mueller would make that decision, suggesting that he had given him the power to expand it.
However, he does also say that if what he did is "relevant" to the investigation; it suggests that it would be up to Rod Rosenstein to determine that relevancy.
Sessions recusal 'violation'?
The investigation is often reported as one that focuses on the Trump campaign aides colluding with Russian officials. But the article also points out that it would extend into the presidency for witness intimidation and obstruction of justice.
In an article by Blasting News which wrote about the potential FBI directors who were being interviewed to take over Comey's former position, Jeff Sessions is referred to as the person leading the interviews despite him officially recusing himself months ago. The AP article also recalls that Sessions was involved in Comey's firing which many believe is a violation of his recusal and it could very well be that Mueller's investigation expands to Sessions.
