Rod Rosenstein officially submits resignation, reminds Trump 'credible evidence is not partisan'

Rod Rosenstein.
(Image credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is finally headed for the door.

After months of hinting that he would be leaving the Justice Department, Rosenstein officially submitted his resignation letter to President Trump on Monday. He wrote that he'll depart May 11, and delivered a brief history lesson on the rule of law along the way.

Rosenstein started the Monday letter by highlighting the administration's achievements: "reducing violent crime, curtailing opioid abuse," and "protecting consumers," among other things. He then went on to deliver quote after historic quote about the value of an apolitical justice system, featuring highlights from several former attorneys general. And he closed with what seemed like a poignant reminder to Trump — that "credible evidence is not partisan, and truth is not determined by opinion polls." America, as Rosenstein put it, "is not governed by the news cycle."

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Rosenstein had been expected to leave his post by mid-March, but hung on as it became clear that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report was going to wrap up.

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Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.