Thread by @TheLastRefuge2

"[Rosenstein] was hired by Jeff Sessions. I was not involved in that process because, you know, they go out and they get their own deputies, and the people that work in that department and Jeff Sessions hired him."

2. I post this interview because so many people keep claiming some ridiculous 3-d chess strategy around Trump hiring Rosenstein etc.

3. President Trump brought the CEO perspective to the White House. Part of that perspective is to let Department Executive Officers (ie. cabinet members) select their own deputies.

4. Attorney General Jeff Sessions wanted Rod Rosenstein as Deputy AG.

That's why President Trump nominated Rosenstein. Nothing more. Not strategic Machiavellian deep state chess nonsense. Sessions wanted him, so Trump nominated him.

5. This is not difficult to ascertain. It is not complex. It is quite simple.

6. So the question becomes why did President Trump select Jeff Sessions as Attorney General?

7. Again, not a difficult question to answer. President Trump has repeatedly said why he selected Jeff Sessions. (His biggest mistake). thehill.com/hilltv/rising/…

8. Senator Jeff Sessions told President-elect Trump he wanted to be the Attorney General. Senator Sessions lobbied P-E Trump for the job. Trump gave Sessions the position out of appreciation for his campaign support.

9. There wasn't a political strategy behind selecting Senator Jeff Sessions, other than thinking he would likely do a good job. President-elect Trump did not know Sessions was going to recuse himself and create two-years of DOJ chaos... thehill.com/hilltv/rising/…

10. Sessions wanted to be Attorney General. Trump gave the position to him.
Sessions wanted Rosenstein as his Deputy AG. Trump gave Rosenstein to him.

These are not complex multidimensional strategic decisions.
These are straightforward reasons for what transpired.

11. Not complex. That's why we are here,... *and*.... where it all stands today.

12. DAG Rosenstein then hired former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel. In part due to the recommendation of FBI Legal Counsel Jim Baker and FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.

13. Likely unbeknownst (at least in initial operational totality) to Rosenstein, Andrew McCabe and James Baker were part of the corrupt DOJ/FBI inside network trying to take-down the President. Hence the: "what do you want me to do Andy, wear a wire"... conversation.

14. Which has now created two camps:

Camp Rosenstein - supported by Sessions, Boente et al.
Camp McCabe - supported by Page, Baker, Lawfare et al

15. Each camp leaking damaging information on the other camp to media. Hence, disparate stories within the Washington Post and New York Times because each "source group" is actually each "camp".

16. Because Rosenstein either: (a) participated; or (b) was a useful idiot, he has now put himself into a massive position of compromise. His stewardship over the DAG position (which is more powerful due to JS recusal), has failed massively.

17. And now there's the stuff behind the declassification directive (temporarily on hold) which makes DAG Rosenstein look even worse. Either: (a) more corrupt; or (b) more stupid.

18. So Rosenstein wants OUT before it gets worse. According to the New York Times (Team McCabe) the DAG tried to politely resign five times recently. 1x McGahn, 2x Kelly, and 2x to POTUS.

19. But White House is saying.... 'not so fast knucklehead, you willfully made this mess - now clean it the hell up'!!

20. Forget the media spin on Rosenstein. This is his actual position. President Trump has him by the proverbial b*lls. 18 months worth of headaches as a result of his: (a) intentional efforts; or (b) ineptitude - because for all things that mattered the DAG was in charge.

21. When you have this much leverage on someone, you don't want them to quit. You want to use their damaged and tenuous position to your advantage.

Trump is in no hurry to fire Rosenstein (not yet), because the DAG is so weak.

22. I can imagine the convo: '"OK, you want to quit, then *YOU* get rid of the Special Counsel *YOU* started, and then *YOU* can quit."'

Until then, it's your mental and reputational death by a thousand paper cuts.

23. /END