Rosenstein May Need to Recuse Himself From Russia Probe

U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has privately acknowledged he may need to recuse himself from matters relating to the Russia probe, given that he could become a potential witness in the investigation, ABC News reported Friday, citing unnamed sources.

ABC said Rosenstein told Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand she would have authority over the probe if he were to step aside.

It's an outcome Rosenstein was already prepping for, having told AP earlier this month that depending on the direction of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, the deputy AG might need to recuse himself if he's called upon as a witness.

"I've talked with Director Mueller about this," Rosenstein said June 3. "He's going to make the appropriate decisions, and if anything that I did winds up being relevant to his investigation then, as Director Mueller and I discussed, if there’s a need from me to recuse I will."

Rosenstein appointed Mueller  to investigate alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, and has told lawmakers he would only fire him with good cause.