washington newly appoint second-in-command u.s. justice department face weighty task two weeks take office write rationale fire fbi director jam comey deputy attorney general rod rosenstein argue case comey sack three-page memo attorney general jeff sessions tuesday president donald trump act swiftly dismiss director late day rosenstein cite comey controversial public statements bureau investigation democratic presidential candidate hillary clinton use private email server secretary state textbook example federal prosecutors agents teach rosenstein write comey public comment spokespeople department justice fbi return call seek comment late tuesday comey fire likely see evidence washington hyper-partisan upheaval rosenstein draw fire democrats allege political motives white house decision dismiss comey particularly time happen today ask senate democratic minority leader chuck schumer new york know fbi look whether trump campaign collude russians ... investigations get close home president rationale can comey however come 26-year justice department veteran widely view peer many lawmakers uncommonly nonpartisan name maryland top prosecutor president george w. bush rosenstein stay office obama administration rosenstein longest-serving u.s. attorney nominate trump last january confirm senate enjoy overwhelm bipartisan support 94-to-6 vote despite deeply divide culture today washington bonnie greenberg federal prosecutor maryland tell reuters march rosenstein admire rare career prosecutor could insulate political pressure something think right say greenberg work rosenstein 11 years many justice department saw rosenstein appointment counter-balance extreme partisanship surround accusations russian interference last year election immediately sweep fray rosenstein confirm position u.s. senate democratic lawmakers ask pledge would appoint special independent prosecutor investigate allegations collusion trump campaign russian officials easily confirm despite rebuff demand republicans anger comey public statements fbi investigation possible tie trump campaign russia rosenstein criticism comey focus action see damage democratic candidate clinton rosenstein focus particular comey news conference last july director announce conclusion clinton prosecute time publicly bash use private email server sensitive u.s. government business day rosenstein write comey usurp authority u.s. attorney general authority whether prosecutions proceed base quality fbi investigations comey also violate longstanding practice gratuitously release damage information clinton even acknowledge evidence insufficient warrant continue investigation rosenstein write hold press conferences release derogatory information subject decline criminal investigation rosenstein write add comey lay version facts news media close argument without trial u.s. senator mark warner virginia top democrat senate intelligence committee say time comey fire suspect come long election trump comey allege mishandle case directly criticize rosenstein disappoint deputy attorney general tell good reputation say sign letter say recommend fire comey comey action hillary clinton nine months ago 10 months ago pass smell test rosenstein letter cite broad bipartisan agreement comey errors judgment last summer comey defend decision speak publicly clinton investigation say american people deserve detail case intense public interest last week senate committee comey defend decision october two weeks presidential election publicly announce bureau discover new email might relate close investigation clinton speak would require act concealment view comey say rosenstein write perplex comey continue defenses handle probe understand refusal accept nearly universal judgment mistake rosenstein write one issue unite people diverse perspectives fire line ouster fbi 's comey test new justice appointee