Deputy AG Reportedly Considered Quitting Over Comey Firing

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was so livid over being pinpointed as the voice calling for the firing of FBI director James Comey that he considered resigning, according to multiple reports. After President Donald Trump fired Comey this week, the White House said it had been done on the recommendation of the Department of Justice, specifically Rosenstein. The Washington Post reports that Trump had decided to fire Comey when he summoned Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Rosenstein to the Oval Office. In that meeting, Trump directed Rosenstein to write out the case against Comey. When Trump fired Comey the next day, pointing to that memo and saying it was Rosenstein’s recommendation that led to his decision, Rosenstein threatened to resign. The Trump Administration has backed away from pinning the decision on Rosenstein as the week progressed. The Justice Department declined to comment to the Post. On May 11, Rosenstein met with Senate Intelligence Committee leaders for a previously arranged meeting, Politico reports.