Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein
Rod RosensteinTrump allies call on Cummings to schedule hearing over Comey report Five takeaways from Justice IG report on Comey James Comey wants an apology? This is myth becoming madness MORE said Thursday that his time in law enforcement was "coming to an end."
"My time as a law enforcement official is coming to an end, a lot later than I expected," the No. 2 official at the Department of Justice (DOJ) said during a lecture at the University of Pennsylvania. "People joke about the revolving door between government and the private sector. The door never revolved for me. It was one way in, and one way out."
On Monday, multiple news outlets reported that Rosenstein is expected to leave DOJ in mid-March.
President Trump
Donald John TrumpPompeo pressed on possible Senate run by Kansas media The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump digs in on Hurricane Dorian projection Trump's mental decline is perfectly clear for those with eyes to see and ears to hear MORE announced Tuesday that he would nominate Jeffrey Rosen to replace Rosenstein as the Justice Department's second in command. Bloomberg News reported the same day that new Attorney General William Barr chose Rosen as his deputy.
Rosenstein, who after the firing of FBI Director James Comey
James Brien ComeyGraham calls on Barr to declassify files on DOJ watchdog's Russia probe Trump ramps up Twitter offensive as Dorian approaches Florida Trump suggests watchdog report shows Mueller probe was 'illegal' MORE appointed special counsel Robert Mueller
Robert (Bob) Swan MuellerFox's Cavuto roasts Trump over criticism of network Mueller report fades from political conversation Trump calls for probe of Obama book deal MORE to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election, has often been at odds with Trump.
Rosenstein oversaw Mueller's probe following the recusal of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions
Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsAdvocates doubt Trump DEA will ease rules on marijuana research Nadler tees up post-recess showdown with Trump Federal prosecutors to seek death penalty in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting case MORE.
The president on Monday blasted Rosenstein and former acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe
Andrew George McCabeIn three years of Trump's presidency, who has branded whom? Trump knocks news of CNN hiring ex-FBI official McCabe Conservatives lash out at CNN for hiring Andrew McCabe MORE after McCabe told "60 Minutes" that Rosenstein once discussed using the 25th Amendment to remove Trump.
"He and Rod Rosenstein, who was hired by Jeff Sessions (another beauty), look like they were planning a very illegal act, and got caught," Trump tweeted.
Rosenstein addressed his detractors in the speech on Thursday, which was first reported by Bloomberg.
"I took more than my fair share of criticism. But I kept the faith, I followed the rules, and I left my office in good hands," he said.
