US deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein resigns

Rod Rosenstein, the US deputy attorney general who oversaw the special counsel inquiry into President Donald Trump's campaign and Russia, has resigned.

Rosenstein, who had a fraught working relationship with Trump will step down on 11 May in a departure that had been expected for months.

In his letter, Rosenstein thanked President Trump for appointing him to the job and "for the courtesy and humor you often display in our personal conversations."

"We enforce the law without fear or favor because credible evidence is not partisan, and truth is not determined by opinion polls," he wrote. "We ignore fleeting distractions and focus our attention on the things that matter, because a republic that endures is not governed by the news cycle."

Trump once tweeted an image showing Rosenstein jailed for treason.

Rosenstein - who was originally appointed by Republican President George W Bush - had been expected to resign in March following the appointment of William Barr as attorney general.

Rosenstein, in his letter also praises some of what he calls the Department of Justice's achievements and its employees' "devotion to duty".

"The Department of Justice pursues those goals while operating in accordance with the rule of law. The rule of law is the foundation of America. It secures our freedom, allows our citizens to flourish, and enables our nation to serve as a model of liberty and justice for all."

He goes on to say that "truth is not determined by opinion polls".

"We ignore fleeting distractions and focus our attention on the things that matter, because a republic that endures is not governed by the news cycle."

In his conclusion, he echoes one of Trump's campaign slogans: "We keep the faith, we follow the rules, and we always put America first."

Attorney General William Barr acknowledged Rosenstein "navigated many challenging situations with strength, grace, and good humor."

"Rod has been an invaluable partner to me during my return to the Department, and I have relied heavily on his leadership and judgment over the past several months," Barr said in a statement. "I have appreciated the opportunity to work closely with him, and I wish him well in his future endeavors. The department and I will miss him."