At the same time, a source familiar with the issue told Reuters that Rosenstein hadn't resigned and was still serving as US deputy attorney general.
Earlier in the day, Axios.com reported that Rosenstein, who is overseeing Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia and the 2016 US election, had given his verbal notice of resignation to White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.
According to a source with direct knowledge, Rosenstein verbally resigned in anticipation of being fired by US President Donald Trump, the website reported.
The resignation comes days after a report by The New York Times alleging that Rosenstein proposed to secretly record the president last year. Commenting on the report, Trump said that he had nothing to do with the case as Rosenstein was hired by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions.