Brand says she’s leaving DOJ because she couldn’t pass up job opportunity

Outgoing Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand said Thursday that she would have been “very happy to stay” at the Department of Justice (DOJ) but was offered an opportunity in the private sector she couldn’t pass up. 

Brand is stepping down from the No. 3 post at DOJ after nine months on the job to become Walmart’s executive vice president of global governance and corporate secretary. 

“Sometimes, something comes up unexpectedly and you just can’t pass it up,” Brand told members of the Federalist Society at a luncheon in Washington, according to The National Law Journal. “That’s all there is to it.”

{mosads}

Brand’s comments appeared to dismiss reports that she had decided to leave the DOJ amid concerns that she would be asked to oversee the criminal investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

That probe, which is being conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller, is currently overseen by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. He took over the investigation after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the matter last year.

As the No. 3 official at the department, Brand would be next in line to take over the probe if Rosenstein were to be relieved of the responsibility.

President Trump has repeatedly criticized Rosenstein’s handling of the probe, particularly his decision to appoint a special counsel, prompting speculation that the president could move to fire the deputy attorney general. 

The White House has sought to quell rumors that Trump is considering ousting Rosenstein.