Trump formally nominates deputy attorney general's replacement

WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday formally nominated Jeffrey Rosen, deputy secretary of the Department of Transportation, to replace outgoing deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

The White House announced Trump's decision last month but sent it to the Senate on Tuesday, where Rosen's nomination needs to be confirmed.

Rosen previously served in the George W. Bush administration and practiced law at the Kirkland Ellis law firm.

Rosenstein was previously expected to leave the Department of Justice (DOJ) in mid-March, but would remain on "a little longer," NBC News reported last week, citing a senior DOJ official.

The deputy attorney general's departure now could be imminent as special counsel Robert Mueller, whom Rosenstein appointed in May, 2017, wrapped up his investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election last week.

Rosenstein oversaw the investigation after former Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself. William Barr was confirmed in February by the Senate as the attorney general.

According to Barr's summary of Mueller's final report, the special counsel found no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government during the 2016 election and did not reach a conclusion as to whether the president had obstructed justice. Barr concluded Mueller's findings are "not sufficient" to support a charge.

Democrats are demanding a complete release of Mueller's report as well as Barr's appearance before Congress to get a clearer picture of the special counsel's investigation.