I think I understand some of this succession stuff ... for the dummies like me out there: It only matter whether #Rosenstein was fired or resigned for his duties as deputy attorney general.
But he was overseeing the Mueller probe as the acting attorney general (because Sessions had to recuse).
Whoever replaces him as acting deputy attorney general (until Trump appoints someone new) cannot also perform the duties of acting attorney general. No "acting-acting" allowed.
This is why oversight of the #Mueller probe falls to Noel Francisco, the current solicitor general.
Now, there is debate over whether Francisco will have to recuse from overseeing the Mueller investigation, but conventional wisdom, it seems, suggests he likely won't.
Please feel free to chime in, experts, if I've gotten something wrong here. Or if there is another scenario worth considering.
If Francisco recuses himself from the Russia investigation, it would fall next to Steven A. Engel, head of the Office of Legal Counsel. justice.gov/olc/staff-prof…
See @steve_vladeck for why:
