President Trump will nominate federal prosecutor Jessie Liu as the Justice Department's associate attorney general, the third-highest position in the department, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the decision.

Liu, a U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, will reportedly monitor the department's anti-trust and civil rights work, as well as defending the government in litigation, including the president's decisions.

The associate attorney general will not play a role in criminal and national security matters and will also not be involved in the process surrounding Special Counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing probe, according to The Journal.

Liu will reportedly replace Rachel Brand, who stepped down last year to take a top legal position at Walmart.

Brand said at the time that she would have been "very happy to stay" at the Department of Justice (DOJ), but could not give up the Walmart opportunity. The position has remained vacant since her exit.

Trump last month said he would nominate Deputy Transportation Secretary Jeffrey Rosen to be Deputy Attorney General, the second-highest DOJ position.

Rosen will replace Rod Rosenstein, who has announced he will step down. William Barr was confirmed as Attorney General last month.

The White House and Justice Department did not immediately reply to requests for comment from The Hill.

Liu previously worked for the DOJ under former President George W. Bush.

In her current role as U.S. Attorney, Liu is is jointly prosecuting Roger Stone with Mueller's team. Stone was indicted in January and accused of obstructing a congressional investigation, making false statements, and witness tampering.

On Monday, Liu, along with Mueller, notified Judge Amy Berman Jackson that Stone shared a picture on Instagram that suggested he was framed after Jackson ordered him not to publicly discuss the case.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/432740-trump-to-nominate-federal-prosecutor-for-no-3-doj-role-report