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Chicago Tribune/Washington Post: Sessions' ouster throws future of special counsel probe into question
The future of the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign was thrown into uncertainty Wednesday after President Donald Trump ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a move that will result in a change in the probe's supervision.
Trump named as acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker, Sessions chief of staff, who as a legal commentator last year wrote that special counsel Robert Mueller III appeared to be taking his investigation too far.
A Justice Department official said Wednesday that Whitaker would assume final decision-making authority over the special counsel probe instead of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
Since last year, Rosenstein has overseen the investigation because Sessions, a key Trump surrogate in 2016, recused himself from dealing with matters involving the campaign. It wasn't immediately clear what role, if any, Rosenstein may play in the probe going forward.
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With the election done, expect Mueller to make his move (Noah Feldman, NYPost)
WNU Editor: The firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions means that the next Attorney General will not only oversee the Mueller Counsel, but will also put his own people in the Justice Department that will follow his and the President's agenda and priorities. This means that the days of the Mueller Special Counsel are coming to the end. I am sure the Special Counsel Mueller knows that, and I do expect in the coming weeks/months he will be presenting his findings and final report. And while I am sure Special Counsel Mueller may like to continue his investigation, as well as his defenders and anti-Trumpers ..... Trump fired Sessions, and in response Utah’s Sen.-elect Mitt Romney defended Mueller’s investigation (Salt Lake City Tribune) .... the second year of his investigation is now coming up, and unless he has evidence that is truly eye-opening, enough is enough. In the meantime everyone is hoping for a bombshell .... With the election done, expect Mueller to make his move (Noah Feldman, NYPost)
