Trump postpones meeting with Deputy AG Rosenstein until next week

Alex Wong | Getty Images

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein talks to an unidentified man as he arrives at the White House September 27, 2018 in Washington, DC. 

President Donald Trump postponed a scheduled meeting with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Thursday, in order not to distract from congressional hearings for his Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.

“The President spoke with Rod Rosenstein a few minutes ago and they plan to meet next week,” Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters. “They do not want to do anything to interfere with the hearing.”

The White House said earlier this week that Trump and Rosenstein would discuss the deputy attorney general’s future at the Justice Department, following conflicting reports that he was either planning to resign or he expected to be fired.

Rosenstein’s position at the Justice Department is more visible than those of other officials because he is charged with overseeing the special counsel’s Russia probe. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recused himself from the investigation.

Trump has effectively gone to war against his own Justice Department, primarily over the Russia probe, which is run by former FBI director Robert Mueller, but also for what the president sees as a failure by the department to pursue his political enemies.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.