Democrats' soured view of Rod Rosenstein diminishes complex role he played in Mueller probe

Liberals thought deputy attorney general was their Trump-slayer, conservatives once wanted him impeached.

For nearly two years, Democrats figured Rod Rosenstein was their man in the Mueller investigation. They fought vehemently to keep him from being fired. They even went to court to try to make him acting attorney general.

Republicans, meanwhile, were so furious with the deputy attorney general that some drew up articles of impeachment last year.

Yet it was Mr. Rosenstein who spent the weekend ensconced with new Attorney General William P. Barr, reading special counsel Robert...