Rod Rosenstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rod Rosenstein
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Official portrait, 2019
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| 37th United States Deputy Attorney General | |
| In office April 26, 2017 – May 11, 2019 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Sally Yates |
| Succeeded by | Jeffrey A. Rosen |
| Acting United States Attorney General | |
| In office November 7, 2018 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Himself |
| Preceded by | Jeff Sessions |
| Succeeded by | Matthew Whitaker (acting) |
| United States Attorney for the District of Maryland | |
| In office July 12, 2005 – April 26, 2017 |
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| President | George W. Bush Barack Obama Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Thomas M. DiBiagio |
| Succeeded by | Robert K. Hur |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rod Jay Rosenstein
January 13, 1965 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lisa Barsoomian |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Nancy Messonnier (sister) |
| Education | University of Pennsylvania (BS) Harvard University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Rod Jay Rosenstein (born January 13, 1965) is an American lawyer. He served as the 37th United States Deputy Attorney General from 2017 to 2019. Before this, he was a United States attorney for the District of Maryland. When he became Deputy Attorney General in April 2017, he was the longest-serving U.S. attorney.
President Donald Trump chose Rosenstein to be Deputy Attorney General on February 1, 2017. The U.S. Senate approved him on April 25, 2017. In May 2017, he wrote a memo that President Trump used to explain his decision to remove FBI Director James Comey.
After Attorney General Jeff Sessions stepped aside from the investigation and Comey was removed, Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller as a special counsel. Mueller was tasked with looking into connections between people linked to Donald Trump and Russian officials. Rosenstein oversaw this investigation for a time.
Rosenstein resigned as Deputy Attorney General on April 29, 2019. His resignation became official on May 11, 2019. In 2020, he joined the law firm King & Spalding as a partner.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Rod Rosenstein was born in 1965 in Philadelphia. His family was Jewish. His father, Robert, ran a small business. His mother, Gerri Rosenstein, worked as a bookkeeper and was president of the local school board. Rod grew up in Lower Moreland Township, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Lower Moreland High School. He has one sister, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, who works at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Rosenstein went to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated with high honors in 1986, earning a degree in economics.
After Penn, Rosenstein attended Harvard Law School. He was an editor for the Harvard Law Review. While at Harvard, he interned with Robert Mueller, who was then a U.S. Attorney. Rosenstein graduated in 1989 with a law degree. He then worked as a law clerk for Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg.
Career in Law
Starting His Career
After his clerkship, Rosenstein joined the United States Department of Justice. From 1990 to 1993, he worked on public corruption cases. He was a trial attorney in the Criminal Division. This division was led by Robert Mueller.
During the Clinton Administration, Rosenstein worked for Deputy Attorney General Philip Heymann. He also worked as a special assistant to Assistant Attorney General Jo Ann Harris. From 1995 to 1997, Rosenstein worked for the United States Office of the Independent Counsel. He helped with the Whitewater investigation into President Bill Clinton. He helped convict three people for fraud. He also oversaw an investigation that found no criminal wrongdoing by White House officials.
In 1997, United States Attorney Lynne A. Battaglia hired Rosenstein. He became an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland.
From 2001 to 2005, Rosenstein worked for the Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice. He helped manage tax enforcement activities. He oversaw civil lawsuits and acted as the head of the Tax Division when needed.
Serving as U.S. Attorney
President George W. Bush nominated Rosenstein to be the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland on May 23, 2005. He started this job on July 12, 2005. The U.S. Senate approved his nomination. He was the only U.S. Attorney kept in his position by President Barack Obama.
As U.S. Attorney, he managed federal lawsuits. He also helped with law enforcement plans in Maryland. He presented cases in federal courts. During his time, Rosenstein successfully prosecuted cases involving corruption and other crimes. He was known for fighting corruption within police departments.
The Attorney General chose Rosenstein to be on the Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys. This committee helps set policies for the Department of Justice. He was also part of committees focused on violent crime, white-collar crime, and cybercrime.
Attorney General Eric Holder asked Rosenstein to prosecute General James Cartwright. Cartwright was accused of sharing secret information with reporters. Cartwright admitted guilt but was later pardoned.
During Rosenstein's time as U.S. Attorney in Maryland, serious crimes like homicides and robberies decreased. This showed that his approach of working with police and communities was effective.
Judicial Nomination Attempt
In 2007, President Bush nominated Rosenstein for a position on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. However, the Democratic Senators from Maryland, Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, blocked his nomination. They said he did not have strong enough ties to Maryland.
Deputy Attorney General of the United States
Becoming Deputy Attorney General
President Trump nominated Rosenstein to be Deputy Attorney General on February 1, 2017. He was one of 46 United States Attorneys asked to resign by Attorney General Jeff Sessions on March 10, 2017. However, Trump did not accept his resignation. The Senate confirmed Rosenstein on April 25, 2017, with a vote of 94 to 6.
The Comey Memo
On May 8, 2017, President Trump asked Sessions and Rosenstein to write a case against FBI Director James Comey. The next day, Rosenstein gave a memo to Sessions. This memo explained why Sessions recommended that President Trump remove Comey. In his memo, Rosenstein said the FBI needed a director who understood past mistakes.
Some people criticized Rosenstein for his role in Comey's removal. They felt it hurt his reputation. After officials said Rosenstein's memo was the main reason for Comey's removal, there were rumors that Rosenstein might resign. Rosenstein denied these rumors.
On May 17, Rosenstein told the Senate he knew Comey would be fired before he wrote his memo.
Appointing a Special Counsel
On May 17, 2017, Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller as a special counsel. Mueller was tasked with investigating "any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump." Rosenstein stated that his decision was not a finding of crimes. He said the public interest required an independent investigation.
Rosenstein said he would step aside from overseeing Mueller if he became a subject of the investigation himself.
Michael Cohen Investigation
In April 2018, Rosenstein reportedly approved an FBI search of President Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen. The FBI seized emails and other documents.
Discussions and Departure
On September 21, 2018, The New York Times reported that Rosenstein had suggested secretly recording conversations with Trump. He also allegedly suggested using the 25th Amendment to try to remove Trump from office. Rosenstein strongly denied these claims. Other reports suggested he was being sarcastic.
On November 7, 2018, Trump named Matthew Whitaker as Acting Attorney General. Whitaker then took over the oversight of Mueller's investigation. Later, William Barr took over when he became Attorney General.
On March 22, 2019, Mueller gave his report to Barr. Barr then sent a letter to Congress summarizing the report. Barr stated that Mueller had not decided if Trump committed obstruction of justice. Barr and Rosenstein concluded there was not enough evidence to say the President obstructed justice.
Rosenstein was expected to leave his position in mid-March 2019. On February 19, 2019, President Trump announced his plan to nominate Jeffrey A. Rosen for the role. Rosenstein officially resigned on May 11, 2019.
After Government Service
Rosenstein joined King & Spalding in January 2020. This is an international law firm. He mainly helps clients with federal investigations.
Rosenstein has also taught classes on federal criminal prosecution. He taught at the University of Maryland School of Law and the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Personal Life
Rosenstein is married to Lisa Barsoomian. She is an Armenian American lawyer. They have two daughters. Barsoomian worked for the National Institutes of Health until 2011. She represented the United States in various legal matters. Rosenstein lives in Bethesda, Maryland.
Rosenstein is a registered Republican.
He was a member of Temple Sinai, a Reform Jewish congregation, from 2008 to 2014. He also served on the board of directors of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum from 2001 to 2011.
Images for kids
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Rod Rosenstein's signature
See also
- George W. Bush judicial appointment controversies
- List of Jewish American jurists
- Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections
