CNN: NYT Reports Rachel Brand, the Third-Ranking Official at the Justice Department, Has Resigned

RUSH EXCERPT:

PEREZ: "Rachel Brand is the number three official at the Justice Department and she would be the person who would be next in line if Rod Rosenstein resigns or is fired. There's been a lot of speculation about that. We know President Trump has been very angry with Rosenstein the handling of the mule investigation, the Russia investigation. But now the York Times reporting that Rachel brand is planning to step down after only being on the job for nine months. Why is she stepping down? We know she would be next in line. Now if Rod Rosenstein were to step down or to be fired, the next person who would be in line would be noh Francisco. There's been a lot of speculation about what would happen if the president goes through with his various threats and his anger at Rod Rosenstein who oversees the investigation. Rachel brand has never really tried cases. She is a national security law expert. She has served in various capacities. In area. But these times of investigations is not really her forte. There's been a lot of speculation about whether she would stay in the job and oversee the Mueller investigation. We've talked to people at the Justice Department who said she was uncomfortable with that idea. And certainly if Rod Rosenstein was on the firing line, we didn't know whether or not she would stay at the justice Department. Now the idea that she is stepping down is very surprising. Obviously, nine months in, people don't just resign that way. We have to hear from the justice Department what they say, what the cause is for her decision to step down."