said an ethics official voiced concern over whitaker s previous negative media comments about the mueller probe. the official said it was a, quote, close call but recusal out of an abundance of caution. whitaker senior advisers consider the issue, recommended against recusal. the deputy attorney general who had primary oversight of the mueller team responded. bob mueller or rod rosenstein or matt whitaker, the investigation will be handled appropriately. reporter: bill bar is the choice to leave the justice department and in june as a private citizen he sent a letter to rosenstein questioning legal basis for any of section case against donald trump for firing fbi director james comey, quote, as i understand it mueller is premised on an insupportable reading of the law, i will remind you it is credited by the justice department, there would be grave consequences beyond the confines of this case and do