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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNo. 3 Official at the Justice Department Is Stepping Down
WASHINGTON Rachel L. Brand, the No. 3 official at the Justice Department, plans to step down after nine months on the job as the countrys top law enforcement agency has been under attack by President Trump, according to two people briefed on her decision.
Ms. Brands profile had risen in part because she is next in the line of succession behind the deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein, who is overseeing the special counsels inquiry into Russian influence in the 2016 election. Mr. Trump, who has called the investigation a witch hunt, has considered firing Mr. Rosenstein.
Such a move could have put her in charge of the special counsel and, by extension, left her in the cross hairs of the president.
Ms. Brand, who became the associate attorney general in May 2017, is leaving for a job as general counsel in the private sector. She has held politically appointed positions at the Justice Department over the past three presidential administrations.
In her current job, she reports directly to Mr. Rosenstein and Jeff Sessions, the attorney general, who has recused himself from the Russia investigation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/us/politics/rachel-brand-justice-department.html?smid=tw-share
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Sounds like she wanted out of that shitshow.
Qutzupalotl
(14,322 posts)An opportunity for Trump to pick a successor, with an eye to shutting down the investigation. She seems to be leaving voluntarily, which is preferable from our perspective to her being forced out.
Brand, although a Republican, was a good civil servant who put country and the law before party. Her replacement might not be so inclined. Not necessarily ominous, but something to watch closely.
On edit: Its also possible she is stepping down to testify in the Mueller probe having witnessed many of the same conversations Rosenstein did to save him from having to step down or recuse, thus preserving the investigation. We will have to wait and see.
lindysalsagal
(20,726 posts)THe fool hasn't staffed the damn government.
Tom Rinaldo
(22,913 posts)That is the Trump team at Justice, all politically appointed by him. He also fired the FBI Director but Comey was a holdover. Then again Trump already has tensions with his own hand picked FBI Director.
His plan perhaps is to force out everyone with even a shred of integrity (I'm being generous and giving that to Sessions for recusing himself on the Russia investigation) and by doing so with such amazing speed and thoroughness there won't be a ghost of a chance that anyone else with a shred of competency and integrity will accept a nomination from Trump to any of those posts. Then the Senate can essentially confirm whoever is still willing to take a job under Trump. Maybe his old bodyguard will replace Brand. The potential pool of legitimate applicants shrinks by the second.