justice department ethics officials, who said he should step aside. whitaker, who has never been preferred on the mueller investigation, is expected to start getting updates now that he isn't recusing himself. however, whitaker was given a heads up, that president trump's former attorney, michael cohen, would plead guilty, before it was publicly announced. meanwhile, deputy attorney general rod rosenstein promised the investigation would continue to be managed properly. >> we've continued to manage the investigation as we have in the past. and it is being handled appropriately. >> reporter: rosenstein's office will continue to manage the special counsel investigation day to day, but whitaker can block any significant steps mueller wants to take. for now. an investigation that whitaker long criticized before joining the justice department. >> that attorney general doesn't fire bob mueller but he just reduces the budget so low, that his investigation grinds to almost a halt. >> even echoing president trump's words, saying the special counsel investigation